National Library Week

April 9, 2021

What’s the difference between a Library and a Library System?

In St. Landry Parish, the Opelousas Public Library houses books – but more than that, e-books, audio books, DVDs, periodicals, free access to a wealth of information not available elsewhere, and computers and wi-fi connection. The Opelousas Library is funded primarily through a line-item on the city’s budget, admittedly not enough to meet all of its needs, or its growth.

A St. Landry Parish Library System would be a network of libraries (branches), interconnected with shared subscription costs, book inventory and links to each library, state libraries, college libraries, the Library of Congress, and many other “super information” hubs or sources. The library that is part of a Library System has the capacity to establish book mobiles and/or branch libraries within the Parish, and provide access to “subscribe only” sites that are beyond the ability of its users (that include students or the elderly) to pay for. The Library Network System would potentially include branch libraries throughout the Parish to provide and facilitate quality services developed through collaboration of the member libraries, while benefiting from co-discounts and cost sharing for supplies, vendor contracts, programs, subscriptions, equipment, printing, and even staffing. A St. Landry Parish Library System would be funded just like every other parish in the state is funding theirs – tax revenues, grants, or other funding methods/mechanisms.

The misconception among many is that the internet has replaced the need for libraries, let alone library systems. But, that is far from true. Libraries employ certified librarians – information experts, that select books relevant to the community, create helpful programming, and connect people to information. “Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.” Neil Gaiman, Author. The web-based algorithms are based on consensus analysis – it moderates, is often shallow or inaccurate. The librarian monitors information, as unfiltered and raw.

Healthy, well-funded library systems can sustain the libraries within to be true community hubs. They become safe havens for kids when school is not in session, offering after school homework help, games and book clubs. Library systems help create capacity for libraries to offer adult and senior citizen computer classes, bookmobiles and community outreach programs for rural populations, and those who are homebound, or without transportation.

Public libraries in a network, have increased capacity to help a community cope with the unexpected. Libraries can and should play a key role in the wake of natural disasters; hurricanes, floods, and pandemics – for example, people left homeless by the storms, or who qualify for special benefits due to the pandemic can use library computers to complete federal forms and communicate with loved ones using the library’s internet connections.

St. Landry Parish – Our Story

Almost 70 years ago, our neighboring parishes adopted parish wide library systems, funded by parish wide property taxes. The Acadia Parish Library System was founded in 1945, followed by Lafayette in 1946, Evangeline in 1948, Avoyellles in 1949, and St. Martin in 1955.

The Police Jury in St. Landry Parish resisted the requests from various groups in the parish asking for a public library system. Finally, in 1965, the Police Jury agreed to hold a tax election. Feeling that public support for the library was high, the Police Jury added eight other tax measures to the same election. The proposal for a library millage failed by 24 votes. As a result, St. Landry Parish is the only parish in Louisiana without a parish-wide library system.

In 1996, Police Jury Election District Eight successfully passed a millage to fund a library in South St. Landry, serving the residents of Sunset, Grand Coteau, Cankton, and surrounding areas. The millage for the South St. Landry Library is 5.75 mills; and Evangeline collects 5.15 mills.

Opelousas, Eunice, Washington, and Krotz Springs operate city libraries, but none have a dedicated funding source, and they are unable to meet the needs of our citizens. In the State of Louisiana, the operation revenues of its libraries amount to $39.55 per person. The Opelousas-Eunice city library has an operating revenue of $6.12 per person, less than one-sixth of the State average. In recent years, the Eunice City Council broke off to form an independent library board to better serve the residents there.

St. Landry Parish, once known as Imperial St. Landry Parish, suffers from high illiteracy and low graduation rates. The St. Landry Parish School Board closed elementary school libraries about a dozen years ago due to lack of funding. While the leadership may have seen no alternative, basic, functional literacy is an essential skill for an individual’s personal and professional growth—it is also key to their full, beneficial use of a library’s services and programs. Yet, according to a study conducted in 2013 by the U.S. Department of Education and National Institute of Literacy, 32 million adults in the U.S. - 14 %—cannot read. 21% of adults in the U.S. read below a 5th grade level, and 19% of high school graduates can't read at all.

The implications of these statistics are alarming, indicating that many adults cannot identify a specific location on a map, complete a job application or an insurance form, understand the instructions on a medicine bottle, or effectively help their children with homework.

St. Landry Parish shows 35% households in poverty, and another 28% struggling to make ends meet. Since many studies relevant to illiteracy indicate poverty as a factor, it would never be a good idea to eliminate libraries, defund libraries or not fully support parish library systems.