Friends of the New Orleans Public Library

Libraries can change lives. From reading programs for children in need to providing large print books for the elderly, Friends support our libraries and help people across New Orleans enjoy a lifelong love of reading and learning.

For more than 30 years, Friends of the Library members have been our local libraries’ most vital supporters and advocates. Every year, Friends fund important and inspiring public library programs, benefitting our entire community.

This year Friends of the Library provided funding for:

• More than 5,000 children to participate in summer reading and Children’s Book Week programs
• Early literacy education for 500 at-risk children and their parents
• $10,000 in scholarships for local librarians who serve the public
• Over 500,000 books to fill the libraries of public schools, elderly care centers and prisons
• Literary festivals supporting New Orleans’ authors, African American writers and women writers
• 1,000 hours of story time for children in Head Start programs across New Orleans
• El Dia de los Ninos, a program supporting literacy for children of all language backgrounds