[StBernard] New library arrives in St. Bernard Parish

Westley Annis westley at da-parish.com
Tue May 15 22:17:15 EDT 2007


St. Bernard Parish officials and residents welcomed the parish's first
post-hurricane public library Tuesday morning, a modular building in
Chalmette that will provide some books and Internet access.

The library, at 7700 West Judge Perez Drive, is being underwritten by the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Arlene and Joseph Meraux
Charitable Foundation. The Gates Foundation is providing the building,
computers and technical equipment; the Meraux Foundation is leasing the land
to parish government for $1 annually. The parish, meanwhile, will provide
wireless Internet.

The Gates Foundation will also give the parish $100,000 for the first year,
$70,000 in the second year and $30,000 in the third year, parish officials
have said.

Because of the limited size of the library, the main use will be for
research and Internet use, library officials have said. There will be a
limited number of books at the facility.




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