As everyone knows, we got the bookmobile opened at the Smith branch a few weeks ago. Since then foot traffic has been very disappointing. Except for the first week, there have been 5 to 10 patrons a day. The librarian is bored. Much more of a problem for us, however, is that the library has decided that this isn't a good use of its resources. We've been cut back from 3 days a week to 2.(although the hours have been lengthened to see if longer hours bring in more people). At the end of August, the status of the bookmobile will be reviewed and we may lose it completely.

That would be a travesty for a number of reasons:
1. The obvious. We wouldn't have a library, and anyone who needed one would have to go uptown. Fewer amenities makes us a less pleasant place to live.
2. That's an important corner, and we don't just want a blighted building on it. It's representative, and it needs to show signs of progress.
3. If we lose the bookmobile, we also lose our priority status to rebuild our library. We need to keep that on the fast track.
4. Losing the bookmobile would be negative progress. That would be a terrible sign of our ability to come back as a community.

Fortunately, there are things all of us can do. Go check out a book. Even if you don't have time to read it. Get your neighbors to check out books, or at least stop in to see the bookmobile. It doesn't take much time and would be helpful to the rebuilding effort.

That said, the bookmobile will only be open on Wednesday this week. Please support our library and thanks.

I am responding as an administrator with the New Orleans Public Library and a property owner in Lakeview. Please rest assured that the Library has no intention of removing the bookmobile from the Smith site. The service hours were curtailed when we lost our 30+ federally funded contract employees. With only 40 staff on payroll, each of our open facilities took a cut/change in hours. The bookmobile is now open M & W 2-6 and Sat. 11-3.

We have received permission for, and are in the process of, hiring back some former employees to help keep our facilities open longer, or at least more convenient, hours in the communities. We fully expect that as the schools reopen, and we add internet access, we will get more traffic. However, Mr. Stoudt's suggestion that you stop by for a visit and a checkout will be helpful. As we all know, numbers talk, and we want to show the city government that Lakeview is coming back and libraries play a role in the rebuilding process.

We would hope to be able to offer a larger, temporary facility at another location. We still in the process of assessing the viability of bringing back the present Smith facility or relocating it to a property with parking.