Library status update
(updated 29 October 2008)
The Hubbell Library is operating out of a temporary location at the carriage house behind the Algiers Courthouse. Meanwhile, our permanent location on Pelican Avenue is closed for repairs and renovation. That project should have been well underway by now, but there have been delays in capital projects as a result of Hurricane Gustav. A number of new emergency city projects resulted from Gustav, including several New Orleans Public Library projects.
NOPL chief operating officer Rica Trigs on 28 October 2008 reported that, as soon as the emergency projects are complete in approximately two to three weeks, "regular projects" will resume. This will apparently include our library, although it too was meant to be an emergency project, given that the roof was supposedly "in imminent danger of collapse".
Concordia Architects has been selected for the repair-and-renovation project. It may be months before a contractor begins work.
Check back often! If you're a Twitterer, keep in touch at twitter.com/hubbell
Background
The Hubbell Library's permanent home at 725 Pelican Avenue is closed until further notice. Inspectors from the City of New Orleans Department of Safety & Permits judged that the roof was "in imminent danger of collapse". The library was closed to the public on 24 May 2008.
The announcement was sudden and unexpected. Patrons, friends and neighbors of the library immediately began an e-mail and telephone campaign to urge the New Orleans City Council to get the library repaired and renovated as quickly as possible.
Within days, District C councilmember James Carter said he received from NOPL director Donna Schremser a "firm commitment to secure and pay for a temporary location for the Hubbell Branch Library." According to Carter, NOPL was in the process of securing "an interim location" within Algiers Point with "enough space and accessibility to provide most services now provided by the Hubbell Branch."
Ms. Schremser wrote on 31 May that library administrators were "looking for a storefront or similar rental space as a temporary location for the Hubbell Library until the roof is repaired and the structural problems are remediated. Once an agreement is reached for the temporary site," she wrote, "an announcement will be made, and staff will begin moving collections from the Hubbell Library."
Councilmember Carter reported on 01 June that the Hubbell Library repair and renovation project was on the city's Project Development Unit agenda and on the list of projects for immediate action. Also by 01 June an architect had apparently been assigned, which means a repair contract could be negotiated and signed by the end of July 2008. If so, then if all else goes well we could have our historic library repaired, renovated and reopened by summer 2009. (That's NOT an official estimate from the city or from any contractor.)
Help us by staying informed, and ready to take action to ensure the survival of our library! Check back often. If you're a Twitterer, follow the updates at twitter.com/hubbell
