Maryland Librarians Pitch in for New Orleans at ALA "Librarians Build Communities" - Editor's Note and President's Column

Oct 13, 2026

Maryland Library Association content highlights librarians volunteering in New Orleans through the ALA initiative “Librarians Build Communities,” describing preparations, sorting donated books, and community engagement after Hurricane Katrina. It includes editor commentary on the conference’s observations of recovery progress and ongoing challenges in the Gulf Coast. A president’s column announces an MLA/CML Education Fund centerstage theatre series with specific plays and ticket details, plus subscription and contact information for the quarterly CRAB and eCRAB.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Editor's Note

New Orleans rebuilding and conference observations

CRAB subscription and contact information

President's Column

Centerstage theatre series for MLA/CML Education Fund

The day offered an opportunity not only to help,but alsoto see just how the city has been affected and to meet thosewho have tackled the challenge of rebuilding.Marylandlibrarians Susan Gray,Donna Colamatteo,Jim DeArmey,Shana Gass,Jean Mantegna,and Yalan Qi were among themany volunteers.Below they share their experiencesDonna Colametto,Frederick County Public Libraries... When I heard about the chance to participate in"Libraries Build Communities"for a full day,I mulled itover and decided that I would sign my self right up.Iselected the Algiers branch based on the description thatthe task at hand was to sort through boxes of donated booksand determine allocations.Well,I thought,this is right upmy alley since I have done that for years here at Frederick County Public Libraries.Little did Iknow with what we would be faced. What a mess!I also signed up tobe Volunteer Leader for that project,and I was so glad I did.Our group of34 volunteers from all over the U.S.included vendors as well as librarystaff and their children.We had twoteenaged volunteers on our team who Algiers Branch,NOPL. Nearly a thousand librariansstarted or ended their AmericanLibrary Association AnnualConference this June by volun-teering a day in New Orleans.Volunteers rolled up their sleevesat twenty different worksites,in-cluding the New Orleans PublicLibrary and several ofits branches,public and parochial schoollibraries,community college anduniversity libraries,the Musicians'Village in the Upper Ninth Ward,and the neighborhood of theLower Ninth Ward.Lower Ninth Ward. Maryland Librarians Pitch in for New Orleans at ALA “Librarians Build Communities”at tbe AlgiersBranch. their eyes when they asked "Is the library open?"Onegentleman mournfully expressed how much he missed^his'library,and‘what are you doing with all the books?'fearing that we were taking them away and they wouldn'tbe replaced.This library has not been open for one yearIf you want to read a great article summarizing the stateof New Orleans'Public Libraries and ALA participation,check out"Binding Wounds"by Coleman Warner,TheTimes-Picayune,June 24,2006. Iam so grateful that Ihad the opportunity to experienceNew Orleans,even just for a few days.To me,it was a truemanifestation of how"librarians build communities."Shana Gass,Reference Librarian,Towson University andYalan Qi,Systems Librarian,Information TechnologyDivision,University of Maryland,College Park... were fantastic!It was hot and back-breaking work,especially whenwe had to load the semi trailerswith boxes of books in nearly1oo degree weather,but we weredetermined to get as much doneas humanly possible.Not onlywas it a great pleasure to work withthis group of dedicated volunteers,but I also had the good fortuneto speak to several patrons whowandered in since they noticedallthe activity.I can't fully describethe dazed and hopeful look in Glimpses of a neighborhood:deserted streets;a boat,high anddry,eleven months after the storm;acollapsed roof;the ubiquitous spraypaint on every house;a solitary manputting fresh paint to siding.This wasthe Lower Ninth Ward as seen by thelibrarians volunteering for CommonContinued on page 8 # Editor's Note I was so pleased to receive the wonderful article onlibrarians helping to rebuild post Katrina New Orleansat the American Library Association Conference thispast June.What a terrific opportunity to help keep us allaware of the continuing daily struggle that residents ofthe Gulf Coast still face.Having attended the conferencemyself,I can attest to the fact that the spirit of this greatcity and the people who call it home is nothing shortof miraculous.Everyone I met was so welcoming,andtheir gratitude to librarians for supporting their city wasdownright heartwarming. The French Quarter and Convention Center were insuch good repair,it was shocking to realize that the veryConvention Center where we attended our meetings hadbeen the site of such horror less than a year earlier.I wasalt

FAQs

What is the article describing about librarians in New Orleans?

It describes Maryland librarians and volunteers pitching in through the ALA “Librarians Build Communities” effort to rebuild and support New Orleans Public Libraries after Hurricane Katrina.

Why does the editor mention the conference and the city’s condition?

The editor connects the conference experience to the continuing daily struggle in the Gulf Coast, noting both impressive repairs and the distance still needed to return to normal.

What does the president announce in the column?

The president promotes a centerstage theatre series benefitting the MLA/CML Education Fund, listing three plays and ticket information, including that the cost includes a tax-deductible portion.

Oct 13, 2026

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