When East New Orleans Regional Library first opened on Read Boulevard in 1968, it was the largest in the New Orleans Public Library system. In the five decades since, the Library has served as a pillar of the community, particularly during Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts in the area, which was devastated by the storm. E
In 1963, iconic New Orleans architects Curtis & Davis built the headquarters for the Automotive Life Insurance Company at 4140 Canal Street. Fifty-three years later, a new tenant moved in: the New Orleans Public Library.
Robert E. Smith Library opened on Canal Boulevard on April 8, 1956, bearing the name of the man who donated the land for the building.
Nestled within the historic Algiers Point neighborhood, Cita Dennis Hubbell Library is almost always buzzing with activity and has been considered one of the defining features of the community since it first opened its doors in 1907.
“Having a library in your neighborhood is great, and it’s something I think is really important for a good quality of life. It allows you to get access to books, access to education, access to knowledge that’s extremely important. For me, to be able to get books and then get home in less than five minutes is really palpable.”
On April 4, 1954, the New Orleans Public Library opened its 11th location at 3841 Washington Avenue as the Norman Mayer Broadmoor Branch. In the 67 years since, it was closed twice, both times reopening bigger and better, thanks to its dedicated and outspoken neighbors.
In the 1960s, New Orleans Public Library officials launched an ambitious plan to create a network of large branches to span the city by 1971. On April 19, 1966, the first of these “superior” libraries opened as Algiers Regional Library at 3014 Holiday Drive.