How the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library Make a Difference Every Day

Since 1957, the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library have been standing up for the Library’s mission through sponsorship, fundraising, and advocacy work. The nonprofit’s work helps fund Library services, programs, and resources not covered in the operating budget.

Shannan Cvitanovic is the Friends’ executive director, a position she’s held for about four years. Development director Louise Saenz and book sale manager Drew Brinkman keep the non-profit running day-to-day, alongside a handful of dedicated volunteers.

Born in New Orleans and raised in lower Plaquemines Parish, Cvitanovic has fond childhood memories from her local library, where she would visit for arts and crafts and to check out books about her current obsessions.

“I remember a librarian at the check-out desk saying to me, ‘I’m always interested to see what you’re reading.’ That made a profound impression on me, that someone noticed what I liked and was encouraging me,” she said. “I want everybody who walks into the Library to feel that way – noticed, respected, and encouraged.”

In addition to sponsoring Library programs and services, the Friends have their own mission to provide books to every person in the greater New Orleans area that wants one.

They also award scholarships to librarians seeking advanced degrees, like Library associates Emma Milneck, Simon Hand, and Mike Marina, who are all currently perusing their master’s degrees in library and information sciences.

“I am so grateful to the Friends for supporting me through my graduate studies. The Friends scholarship has made a huge difference for me by easing my financial burden and encouraging my growth professionally with the New Orleans Public Library,” Milneck said. “This is my dream job, so it means the world to have the support of Shannan and the Friends.”

As a father and full-time Library associate, Hand has been chipping away at his MLIS degree part-time and is almost at the end.

“I’ve been in the MLIS program at LSU for more years than I like to mention, and the Friends scholarship has helped pay my tuition every semester throughout my time in the program. That has been extremely helpful and I’m very grateful to everyone at the Friends,” Hand said. “I have always taken one class at a time, so the scholarship funds have paid a significant chunk of my tuition every semester.” 

For Marina, the scholarship was “an amazing assistance to handling grad school.”

“I used mine to pay for my books for each class. Which, trust me, was a sizable load off my shoulders,” he said. “It was also great talking with Shannon and just feeling supported in my decision to get my degree. I don’t have family in town, so it felt like people were cheering for me. It made a huge difference.” 

Mike Marina
Mike Marina is a Library associate and recipient of a Friends of the New Orleans Public Library's scholarship, which he is using to get his Masters in Library & Information Sciences.
Emma Milneck
Emma Milneck is a Library associate and recipient of a Friends of the New Orleans Public Library's scholarship, which she is using to get her Masters in Library & Information Sciences.
Simon Hand
Simon Hand is a Library associate and recipient of a Friends of the New Orleans Public Library's scholarship, which he is using to get his Masters in Library & Information Sciences.

Every year, the Friends sponsored hundreds of Library events, including the beloved Summer Fun & Reading Challenge programming. In 2024, the Friends teamed up with the Library City Archives & Special Collections to host the first GenFest, a free, day-long event celebrating family, culture, and memory through the lens of genealogical research. With the Friends’ generous support, the Archives have been able to go bigger and better every year since, Christina Bryant, director of the City Archives & Special Collections said.

“The City Archives & Special Collections could not have hosted GenFest over the past two years without the support of the Friends. They have helped with purchasing materials, managing grants, and volunteering to set up tables and chairs,” Bryant said. “Beyond financial backing, the Friends play a crucial role in advocacy. Their belief in the Archive’s mission and unwavering support is truly invaluable.”

Christine McCourtney heads the Library’s Early Literacy Programming and said the Friends’ support is game changing.

“Their funding has enabled us to expand our early literacy programming beyond storytime to include weekly playtimes at all our locations, music and art programs across the system, as well as sensory-friendly programming throughout the year,” McCourtney said. “These types of programs are not only fun for families with early learners, but also important in helping develop the foundational skills needed to learn to read and write. I can’t say enough about the support and generosity of the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library.”

The Friends are also responsible for dozens of the Little Free Libraries around the city. In addition, the Friends run two thrift stores: The Carriage House Bookshop, located behind Milton H. Latter Memorial Library on St. Charles Avenue, and another inside Algiers Regional Library.

They also frequently pop up at art markets around the city, including ones at City Park and Marsalis Harmony Park, where Cindy Morse and Carol Hester have been volunteering to raise money for the Library since 2006. Cvitanovic said their dedication to the Friends and to the Library is clear, praising their urgency to get Library services back up and running after Hurricane Katrina – and their enthusiasm for the monthly book sale.

All proceeds from the Friends’ various book sales benefit the Library. Heather Riley, director of public services, said the Library is forever grateful for everything the Friends do to support the New Orleans Public Library.

In 2025, the Friends spent a total of $135,689 on Library support, and Cvitanovich plans to contribute even more in 2026.

“We see how hard Library staff work every day, and how important that work is to the community, and we want to give as much money as we possibly can to support and uplift this work,” Cvitanovic said. “And for that reason, we’ll be participating in Give NOLA Day on May 5, to support the Library. We encourage anyone who loves libraries and wants to help support a truly special institution to help fund our mission.”

Visit friends.nolalibrary.org to learn more about becoming a Friends member, or how you can support the Friends through volunteering, purchasing books, or donating directly.

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