Librarians in New Orleans

[SeattleRedBear]

As a librarian who just returned from our annual meeting in New Orleans, I just feel the need to speak out in whatever way I can as to what I saw, heard and felt.

Ours was the first major convention (over 17,000 attendees) to hold a meeting in New Orleans after Katrina. Everywhere we were thanked for coming back to the city. Many service industry people (convention center staff, waitstaff, tour operators, shuttle drivers) that I spoke to said that starting last week was the first time they have had a job in the months since Katrina. Nagin & Landrieu both spoke at the keynote and thanked our group for not only bringing our convention dollars and not only contributing to hundreds of work projects around the city but also to simply show the rest of the United States and the world that New Orleans is ready for a tourist and convention industry that they so desparately need.

If you stayed in the French Quarter or downtown, everything looked pretty much normal. Some downtown construction, still a lot of small businesses closed, not as many crowds around (you could actually walk down Bourbon Street late at night without bumping into people). The restaurants still served amazing food and there was still music pouring out onto the streets of the French Quarter. It felt a shadow of its former self but not a ghost town. The tourist areas of New Orleans are as safe (and definitely cleaner) than ever.

However, the areas of devastation are still there. Flying over the city one sees hundreds (if not thousands) of blue tarp roofs and trailers in front yards (in the neighborhoods that were not flooded). Bureaucratic incompetence and lack of leadership at many levels of government have kept people from getting the support they need to go forward with their lives. A cab driver told me that he had a profitable auto-detailing business (had 7 people working for him) but that he was getting no financial support from FEMA because he had been in business less than two years. Several people told me about the fact that they were receiving *nothing* from insurance companies for their houses because of various changing criteria and one woman I talked to didn't know where she would be next month as she had no insurance money, FEMA wouldn't be paying for her hotel room after next month and she just hoped and prayed that she could keep her job as a shuttle driver to have some money to find a place to live.

I attended a talk gave by Anderson Cooper (CNN anchor & recent author) where he told of his experience at the convention center last august when people were turned away from the Superdome with a promise of buses at the convention center that would take them out of New Orleans. And where they suffered with nothing for several days until those buses finally came. It was his first time back in the convention center and one of things he felt was an irrational anger at the fact that convention center looked so clean and new and that there was no acknowledgement of the tragedy that had occured and no tribute to the people who had died there.

I did not go to a work site as I had a full schedule, but now I wish I had so I could have helped in some more substantial, personal way while I was there. But as I think about, I'm also seized by that same sense of irrational anger. Why aren't the thousands of tax dollars I pay every year going to support these people in need who are trying to recover from this devastating tragedy??!

The tourist areas are safe and (with fewer crowds) easier to navigate. I encourage everyone to go see the city for yourself. And if you feel as I do, I suggest you contact your congressional representatives and tell them the government should be doing more to support the citizens of New Orleans in their recovery efforts.

 

[arminnie]

Thank you for:

Attending the convention
Listening and paying attention to what real residents are saying
Taking the time to post

New Orleans needs all of the help it can get. Visitors probably help the most right now. Even if one can't physically go gut houses (I can't) just going out to a restaurant and shopping helps a lot.

The tourist areas are indeed very safe. I live on St. Charles avenue (where the street cars used to run). I don't feel threatened when out walking my dog for his late night outing.

One night deep in the Quarter I had to walk about a mile and a half back to where I had parked my car (up by Poydras). No one bothered me at all - except for the cute policeman who teased me about walking in heels.

 

[snappy]

Glad you attended the conference. Hope you return someday soon.
Thanks for posting your impressions so honestly.

 

[merryweather30]

Thank you! Well said...

 

[DVC Sadie]

Thanks for your input and your kind words. I am amazed that some people think everythings hunkey dorey now. I love NOLA and want to see her recovered as soon as possible.

 

[ash&abby'smom]

It's easy for people to forget, so it's great to have people like you come here and report back on how the devastation is still apparent. Many, Many people still need help and are not receiving it. It is very sad to still see so many suffer.

Thank you for coming and your support and posting about it.

 

[SoonerKate]

If anyone is interested in contributing to Gulf Coast libraries, the Dewey Donation System can help you do just that!

 

[arminnie]

Here's an article from the Times Picayune

More From The Times-Picayune

EDITORIAL: One for the books


Thursday, June 29, 2006


When more than 18,000 members of the American Library Association met in New Orleans this week, it was the first major convention in town since Hurricane Katrina. So, the event was a crucial test.

Fortunately, New Orleans seems to have passed. This metro area was a prime destination for conventions before the storm, and the apparent success of the ALA event bodes well for the recovery of the hospitality industry.

Before the storm, greater New Orleans routinely handled meetings on the scale of the ALA convention. But even though most of New Orleans' best-known attractions are in areas that suffered little flooding, the Katrina crisis still devastated the infrastructure of the tourism industry. The Ernest N. Morial Convention center needed repairs after being used as a makeshift shelter. The shortage of housing has hampered the ability of hotels and restaurants to hire workers.

Yet conventioneers reported few hitches. Some expressed surprise at how normal the city's main tourist areas looked. Others noted that service at some hotels was spotty, but employees apologized for such problems up front.

Still, the news wasn't all good -- mainly because of transportation troubles. Only two-thirds of the flights that served Louis Armstrong International Airport before the storm have returned. Some ALA speakers learned the hard way that if you miss your connecting flight into New Orleans, getting another one on the same day can be impossible.

Officials from other groups that are planning conventions in this area -- or might be in the future -- watched the ALA event closely to identify potential problems. Convention and tourism groups clearly need to make a priority of working with airport officials and airlines to ensure easy air transit into and out of greater New Orleans.

By and large, though, the lack of major problems at the ALA convention was an encouraging sign for the metro area. The convention and tourism business was a vital part of this region's economy before the hurricane, and it will remain a vital part well into the future.

 

[cajunmommy]

Hope you truly enjoyed your working visit.

It's taking lots of time, but the grand old city will be back.

Thanks for spreading some positive news coupled with reality!

 

[SeattleRedBear]

The tourist areas are indeed very safe. I live on St. Charles avenue (where the street cars used to run). I don't feel threatened when out walking my dog for his late night outing.

Where along St. Charles? I was staying at the Pontchartrain and taking the bus (former streetcar) into town every day. It's so sad to see the state the Pontchartrain is in. And St. Charles was so quiet compared to how I remember it.

 

[SeattleRedBear]

If anyone is interested in contributing to Gulf Coast libraries, the Dewey Donation System can help you do just that!

And for those who want to help the New Orleans Public Library, visit their website where there is information on how to donate to the library.

 

[arminnie]

Where along St. Charles? I was staying at the Pontchartrain and taking the bus (former streetcar) into town every day. It's so sad to see the state the Pontchartrain is in. And St. Charles was so quiet compared to how I remember it.

Not in one of the mansions! I have a condo that is a couple of blocks from Napoleon - a little further uptown than were you were.

 

[annegal]

http://www.pontchartrainhotel.com/

Did you happen to eat their famous Mile High Pie?

Thanks for the great report!

 

[SeattleRedBear]

Did you happen to eat their famous Mile High Pie?

I forgot about the Mile High Pie! They actually have a picture of it outside the elevator to try to entice you into the restaurant but I was never in the hotel before the restaurant closed. Frankly give me beignets at Cafe du Monde or Sweet Potato Pie at Mother's or Bananas Foster at Brennan's over Mile High Pie any day!!

 

[RUDisney]

Since you are a librarian, I'd like to ask a question. This is sincere and I'm not trying to start anything. I hope my question comes out right and that it is accepted in the sense that I mean it.

OK, here it goes: I don't understand why the libaries, both public and in the schools are looking for book donations. While I understand that my kids' school is always looking for donations, if it was devistated in a fire or hurricane, as the case may be, wouldn't the school district have insurance to replace the books? Wouldn't there be a backed up list of the books that were ruined in the calamity?

I understand that some texts are out of print and/or rare that the library may have had, but that doesn't mean that I would select one of those old texts for donation anyway. Chances are, I'd buy the latest Harry Potter book, or Junie B Jones, etc., instead of finding and donating The History of WWII that was published decades ago. KWIM?

I know that school districts do things in ways that make me scratch my head sometimes. Are the schools using insurance money that would be earmarked for the library on something else? Are the libraries just trying to jumpstart their shelves again?

I really don't know the answer to these questions. From an outsiders perspective, it seems like insurance money should pay for the replacements and donations should be the supplement. Or, do I just have on rose-colored glasses?

 

[annegal]

I forgot about the Mile High Pie! They actually have a picture of it outside the elevator to try to entice you into the restaurant but I was never in the hotel before the restaurant closed. Frankly give me beignets at Cafe du Monde or Sweet Potato Pie at Mother's or Bananas Foster at Brennan's over Mile High Pie any day!!

Yes! I've had all but Mother's sweet potato pie,,after one of their po-boys I'm never hungry for dessert!

 

[SeattleRedBear]

Since you are a librarian, I'd like to ask a question. This is sincere and I'm not trying to start anything. I hope my question comes out right and that it is accepted in the sense that I mean it.

I'll do my best. I'm a serials cataloger at a university library so not terribly familiar with public and school libraries. I hope others chime in if I get this wrong.

OK, here it goes: I don't understand why the libaries, both public and in the schools are looking for book donations. While I understand that my kids' school is always looking for donations, if it was devistated in a fire or hurricane, as the case may be, wouldn't the school district have insurance to replace the books? Wouldn't there be a backed up list of the books that were ruined in the calamity?

Book donations aren't only used to build a library but they are also used to make money for a library (primarily through book sales). In addition, I think there are commercial services that basically work like book exchanges where libraries provide books and in return are entitled to receive books that are appropriate for their collections. We use this service for back issues of journals, I'm assuming a similar service exists for books.

As for the insurance, all I can say is that it depends on the policy. When I was in New Orleans, I spoke to several people who's homes were damaged who said they were getting nothing from their insurance companies because of "acts of god" clauses, etc. I don't know about commercial insurance to know if there are similar payment restrictions and to what degree library collections are covered.

About the library inventory, that also depends on the library. These days, most libraries are automated and the library's online catalog would serve as the inventory. However, if the database isn't backed up off-site it may be destroyed with the library. In addition, libraries are frequently part of a library consortium which would have a record of the titles held by the library. So in most cases, a library would be able to pull together an inventory list.

I understand that some texts are out of print and/or rare that the library may have had, but that doesn't mean that I would select one of those old texts for donation anyway. Chances are, I'd buy the latest Harry Potter book, or Junie B Jones, etc., instead of finding and donating The History of WWII that was published decades ago. KWIM?

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. But depending on the library, that donation may be perfect. Libraries serve several roles. One is as the research center (to help with homework, to educate). Another is to support recreational reading. School and public libraries are here to promote reading (especially among children). I don't think anyone will argue that reading is an essential skill for success and if it takes Harry Potter or Junie B Jones to get them there, then so much the better. Besides, by the time the time your library's copy of Goblet of Fire has been checked out to 40 or 50 kids, I'm guessing it's pretty much going to be falling apart. Your donation means that the library won't have to spend the money on a replacement copy.

And like I said earlier, even if your donation isn't appropriate for the library's collection, the library will most likely be able to use it in other ways.

I know that school districts do things in ways that make me scratch my head sometimes. Are the schools using insurance money that would be earmarked for the library on something else? Are the libraries just trying to jumpstart their shelves again?

I think the answer varies from district to district and you'd need to contact someone at that district, I really don't know.

One of the things that I do find interesting when I started looking into the New Orleans Public Library situation was that NOPL isn't asking for book donations. In fact, they've been overwhelmed by book donations and at this point don't have the space for them as only five of NOPL's twelve libraries are open (for a librarian or library lover, the pictures are pretty horrific). Not only are they still physically recovering, but because their budget was primarily based on tax revenue, they've had to layoff 80% of their staff. Even if insurance completely covers facilities and collections replacement (which I doubt as most insurance policies have deductibles), the city is not yet generating the revenue to fully staff and program the libraries. What they're asking for is financial contributions (tax-deductible) until the city is back on its feet and generating revenue to fund city services.

I really don't know the answer to these questions. From an outsiders perspective, it seems like insurance money should pay for the replacements and donations should be the supplement. Or, do I just have on rose-colored glasses?

I agree with you, but again, you're talking about commercial insurance policies, which I really know nothing about. For NOPL (and I would assume this is the case with other libraries in the area), Katrina & Rita not only damaged the facilities and destroyed most of the collections, but the hurricanes also affected the funding base that is used to operate and maintain the libraries. Plus, I doubt that insurance would cover the cost of processing the books (OK, you've just received your order of 20,000 replacement books and they're sitting in hudreds of boxes in your library...now what? Unless you have the staff to process them, enter them in your catalog and shelve them, they'll just sit there).

I hope this helps answer your questions/concerns. As I said, I know nothing about the insurance side of disaster recovery, so can't address those concerns.

 

[arminnie]

SeattleRedBear - fantastic post!

I also wanted to mention what is happening at Tulane University's libraries. Yes - they have insurance, but what is extremely difficult and they acknowledge will probably end up in years of litigation is proving what the value is of the books and materials that were destroyed.

This of course is probably much more difficult at a research university than an elementary school, but the principle is the same. Especially for out of print materials. You can't just hand the insurance companies a list of what was there and what the price is if there is not an open market for the books. And is the wholesale or the retail value, was the insurance replacement, and of course the deductibles.

I'm not slamming insurance companies in general (although there are some adjusters who deserve it if for nothing else being totally untrained), but even in the best of circumstances the insurance companies end up trying to minimize their losses.

There is also the time value of money. So you get a check five years from now for what it was worth at the time of the disaster - it may not be enough. But I think one of the main issues is the whole labor thing - just as SeattleRedBear says even if all of the books and materials showed up tomorrow it would still take a lot of hours of work to process them.

I'm going to be real blunt here - the school district was a fiscal DISASTER (literally) prior to Katrina. An outside firm had to take over the finances as the school board, etc were so corrupt. Non-existant people were being paid, etc. Who knows if they even had the insurance that they claimed. I cannot exaggerate how bad it was.

This is an opportunity for a fresh start - thank goodness. You can never eliminate poverty if there is no education available to the young ones. But they are going to be SO strapped for money that there is no assurance that there will be any funds for library functions when they have to get buildings first.

FYI - Ray Nagin may not have be the most competent mayor, but he is, sad to say, the most honest mayor they have had in the past 40+ years of my experience with the city. He is not setting up personal foundations with proceeds being funneled to his relatives like the previous administrations.

 

[RUDisney]

SeattleRedBear and Arminnie, thank you for your responses. You've helped fill in some gaps that I really couldn't have done without your help.

My experience with commercial insurance is through my employer. Sure, we have a deductible, but we've been paid a number of times for different things, including "Acts of God" such as electrical storms and most recently we've filed a claim because of flooding in one of our offices due to last week's deluge of rain.

You've made some good points. The most important, I'm sure, is that we don't know what kind of insurance the school boards or public libraries had. Just because people are elected to office, it doesn't mean that they're smart. The second being the labor issue.

Our school, in memory of the principal's wife, had 411 books donated for the 100th day of school. There is a special book shelf in our library that was donated by her family. The librarian is still mad at the number of donations because she is still cataloging the books. Yes, she had volunteers, but evidently not enough for her liking. Evidently, it is time consuming work. I couldn't imagine having to recatalog the entire library.

I didn't realize that libraries could trade donated books for the ones that they really need/want. Using Harry Potter as an example again, I could only imagine that the school might get 150 copies of one of these books but not the entire collection of books, or no books at the 1st grade level. What would you do with so many copies of one book and no Dr. Seuss? Now I understand that they can trade and get books at each level.

Thanks for your input. Like I said, I was very concerned and curious about this. You've given me good conversation starters when I'm out and about this summer. I'm sure that there are many people who don't realize the magnitude of this and, like me, expected there to be legitimate insurance that would be written to protect these organizations. I guess insurance is only as good as your agent, and only as good as the policy maker within the organization who needs it.