Our History
On January 18, 1897, the New Orleans Public Library opened its doors for the first time. Previously called the Fisk Free and Public Library, the institution was located inside St. Patrick’s Hall on Lafayette Square with a collection of over 35,000 volumes. The New Orleans Public Library now operates a 15-location system with a collection of more than 466,000 items and enriches the community with access to free services and resources that its founders could likely have never imagined.
Learn More About Our Library Locations
City Librarians since 1896
» 1896 – 1906: William Beer
» 1906 – 1928: Henry M. Gill
» 1928 – 1932: Daniel D. Moore
» 1932 – 1935: Edward Alexander Parsons
» 1935 – 1936: Mildred Guthrie (Acting)
» 1936 – 1937: Edmund L. McGivaren
» 1938 – 1960: John Hall Jacobs
» 1943 – 1945: George King Logan (Acting) Logan became Acting City Librarian while Jacobs served in the military during WWII
» 1960 – 1961: Ruth K. Robbins (Acting)
» 1961 – 1965: Jerome Cushman
» 1965 – 1967: Guenter A. Jansen
» 1967 – 1984: M. Eugene Wright, Jr.
» 1984 – 1986: George J. Guidry (Acting)
» 1986 – 1996: Daniel Wilson
» 1996 – 2004: Gertiana Williams
» 2004 – 2006: William Johnson
» 2006: Geraldine Harris (Interim) / Lance Query (Consulting)
» 2006 – 2008: Donna Schremser
» 2008 – 2010: No City Librarian
» 2011: Shannon Aymami (Interim)
» 2011 – 2019: Charles M. Brown
» 2019 – 2020: Jessica Styons (Interim)
» 2020 – 2021: Dr. Gabriel Morley
» 2021 – Present: Emily Painton