State Library of Louisiana

The State Library of Louisiana is Louisiana's state library agency, located in Baton Rouge.

History

The first state library

The current state library was not the first. The Louisiana State Library was created in 1838. It was originally located in New Orleans, which was the state capital at the time. In 1849 the capital was moved to Baton Rouge, and the library also moved. During the Civil War the library was moved back to New Orleans to protect the collection. Only part of the collection was taken, and many of the materials that remained behind were lost or destroyed.

The Library was negatively affected by the Civil War due to decreased funds. The lack of funding lasted long after the war had ended and greatly impaired development of the collection. The library remained in New Orleans until 1904. After years of neglect, the library was closed in 1911. The Law Library Society, which later became the Louisiana Law Library, added what remained of the collection to its own.

The current state library

In 1920, the Louisiana Legislature created the Louisiana Library Commission, a forerunner of the State Library of Louisiana. In 1925, the Commission joined with the philanthropic Carnegie Corporation to create a network of libraries across the state. The State Library of Louisiana opened on November 1, 1925 in Baton Rouge. From 1925 until 1932, the Library was located in the Old State Capitol, in what was then called the old Adjutant General's Office. With other governmental departments, the Library moved to the new capitol in 1932, to offices on the 18th floor. In 1940, the Library was moved to North 3rd Street in the building which had been vacated by the Hill Memorial Library after Louisiana State University removed to a new campus south of town in 1926.

State librarians

1. Essae Martha Culver (1925-1968)
2. Sallie Farrell (1968-1981)
3. Thomas Jaques (1981-2005)
4. Rebecca Hamilton (2005-)

External links

• Official website