New Orleans Public Library Cuts the Ribbon at the Children's Resource Center

The New Orleans Public Library cut the ribbon at the Children’s Resource Center on Saturday (Oct. 3), unveiling a newly renovated space dedicated to supporting early learners and their caregivers.

Formerly the Napoleon Branch Library, the Children’s Resource Center is the second-oldest operating Library location in New Orleans. Located the corner of Magazine St. and Napoleon Avenue, it opened on January 31, 1908, and is one of New Orleans’ remaining two Carnegie Libraries.

When the 118-year-old building closed to undergo significant structural repairs last May, the Library took the opportunity to return it to its original purpose as an early learning center. This decision was guided by the Library’s 10-year strategic plan, which identified low early literacy rates as a key community concern, according to City Librarian & Executive Director Emily Painton.

“In the 1990s, Library leaders also identified this need, which resulted in the original rebranding of the Napoleon Branch to the Children’s Resource Center. Over the years, the CRC shifted back into a more traditional Library space, offering materials and programming for all ages, including adults,” Painton said. “As we cut the ribbon on this long-awaited project, we open the doors to a thoughtfully and intentionally designed place for early learners and their caregivers to fall in love with reading together, strengthening community learning for generations to come.” 

The Library celebrated the Children’s Resource Center’s reopening with a lively open house, featuring music, storytimes, crafts, a firetruck visit, and more. Mayor Helena Moreno helped cut the ribbon, calling the CRC “a gift to our community.”

“This project shows our commitment to investing in the future of the children of New Orleans,” Moreno said. “It is important to the health and strength of our city, because every child in this city deserves a place where they can discover books, develop a love of reading, use their imagination, and simply be a kid.”

Under the leadership of Morgan Hanrahan, the Children’s Resource is staffed by a team of early literacy professionals. The center will serve as the Library’s hub for providing consistent and carefully curated programming, resources, collections, and more, including:

  • Interactive play areas designed specifically for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers
  • A carefully curated collection of materials that supports the needs of early learners and their caregivers as they develop early literacy and school-readiness skills
  • An intentional focus on a child’s early years of development, learning, and social interactions
  • Early literacy experiences in a nurturing and engaging learning environment

Though the Center’s focus is on young children from birth through the age of 5, children of all ages are welcome at the refreshed, repaired, and renewed Children’s Resource Center. The CRC also houses a small collection of new and popular adult books, and Library cardholders of all ages can still use the location to pick up holds and return items.

The Children’s Resource Center is open from 10am to 6pm on Monday-Thursday, and from 10am to 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Find other Library locations and their hours here.

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