History of the St. Tammany Parish Library

In 1946, the Covington Business & Professional Women's Club sponsored a parish library as their annual project. A parish wide library committee met with representatives of the State Library of Louisiana to secure a Library Demonstration Project. On November 19, 1946, a representative from the State Library and the Chairman of the Covington Business & Professional Women's Club presented the Library Project to the St. Tammany Parish Police Jury. The Police Jury passed an ordinance of establishment, which formally requested a Library Demonstration Project. After a several year delay, on June 2, 1950, the St. Tammany Parish Library Demonstration opened.

Library Demonstration Projects were established throughout Louisiana, with the St. Tammany Parish Library being the 32nd Demonstration library in the state. Demonstration funds operated the library for a period of one year. After that one year, it would the responsibility of the community to completely fund the library by passing a property tax millage for library operations. During that first year, local parish government provided housing, furniture and equipment, utilities, and janitorial service. The Demonstration provided books, magazines, administrative supplies, a bookmobile, and a professional staff.

Initially, 8 branches were opened as part of the Demonstration. These branches were located in Covington (2 branches), Slidell, Mandeville, Pearl River, Folsom, Madisonville and Abita Springs. A Bookmobile served areas of the parish without branches.

In an election held on March 21, 1951, parish voters approved a library millage of 2 ¾ mills for 10 years. When the Library Demonstration ended in 1952, this ad valorem tax provided the majority of the funding for the Library. 10,000 books and the bookmobile provided by the Library Demonstration remained with the now locally funded Library.

The new parish library rented all the original buildings and as use demanded, larger buildings were rented for some branches. During the 1950's, 2 additional branches were opened. The Lacombe Branch opened in June of 1959. This area had been previously served by the bookmobile. The Isiah Thomas Memorial Branch opened in June of 1952 to serve Slidell's black population. The J.S. Clark Branch, serving black patrons in Covington, opened with the original branches in 1950.

With funds accumulated from the millage, the Library eventually purchased land, constructed buildings and furnished them. The first parish owned building, the Slidell Branch Library, opened in May of 1964. The Covington Branch/Headquarters building opened in April of 1965. During the 1970's buildings in Mandeville, Bush, Lacombe, and Abita Springs were constructed.

By 1980, there were branches in Slidell (Slidell Branch and Isiah Thomas), Covington (Covington Branch and J.S. Clark), Mandeville, Madisonville, Lacombe, Pearl River, Bush, Abita Springs, and Folsom.

In the 1960's, the Slidell area began to experience a tremendous growth in population due to the aerospace industry. This growth was the impetus behind a bond issue and increase in millage for library operations. In the early 1980's, a consultant was hired and a parish wide committee was formed to develop a capital improvement plan for the St. Tammany Parish Library. The consultant's plan made recommendations regarding branch renovations, branch locations, building size needed for projected growth, etc.

Two separate (but related) issues went before parish voters in October of 1983; an increase in millage for library operations (materials, staff, maintenance, etc.) and a bond issue for purchase of land, design, contruction/renovation, and furnishing of buildings. During the first election, the bond issue passed; the millage for operations failed. During the second election, the millage passed. The Library had both the funds now to build and to operate the new/renovated buildings. This bond issue also made it possible for the Library to acquire an automation system for circulation, catalog, and other library functions.

Following the passage of both issues, a massive building/renovation project began. New branch buildings were built in Covington, Slidell, Folsom, Pearl River, Lacombe and Lee Road. Renovated branch buildings included Abita Springs, Bush and Mandeville. The Madisonville Branch was moved into a renovated former bank building.

With the new and improved buildings, bookmobile service was discontinued and the 2 small branches serving black patrons were consolidated with the new and much larger branches in Covington and Slidell.

During the 1990's 3 additional branches were opened to meet population demands. The Pontchartrain Branch opened in Slidell on Pontchartrain Drive in July of 1993. The Causeway Branch opened in Mandeville near the Causeway in November of 1999. The Electronic Resource Center opened on Koop Drive off Hwy 59 in June of 1999.

The 1990's brought great changes in library services with the addition of personal computers for public use. Initially, PCs were installed for public use in Slidell, Mandeville, and Covington. With the donation of monies from the Gates Library Foundation to Louisiana public libraries in 1998, PCs for public use were installed in all branches. PCs and the popularity of the Internet, attracted more patrons to St. Tammany Parish Libraries.

Over the years, library services have changed and evolved. St. Tammany Parish Libraries now offer books, magazines, audio cassettes, compact discs, video tapes, programs for all ages, exhibits, Internet access, online databases and service to nursing homes. With circulation in 2001 totalling 1,012,841 items, we know that St. Tammany Parish citizens enjoy and use their library.

Recent developments include the installation of a new automation system in January of 2002 replacing the one originally installed in the late 1980's.

The Library Board of Control and Library administration are commited to providing residents of St. Tammany Parish with library service of high quality. The Library will continue to expand and improve services to patrons of all ages.