By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – When the Internet came on the scene nearly 40 years ago it didn’t take long for talk to begin about the eventual disappearance of books and newspapers as a main source of knowledge and information.
But four decades later it is clear that won’t be happening, and further evidence can be found at 555 Robert Blvd. in Slidell where the Slidell Library is beginning a major improvement and expansion project that has been needed for years.
St. Tammany Parish Library Director Kelly LaRocca said the Slidell library is actually the busiest and most used library in the 12-branch system. However, the need for an overhaul and expansion had been stymied for years since they didn’t have enough land for the necessary parking.
That all changed in 2019 when they were finally able to purchase the corner lot at Robert Boulevard and North Boulevard, previously owned by a bank that ran into zoning problems trying to build there. When the bank owners decided they couldn’t meet state highway department requirements they offered to sell the land, which the library system purchased for $440,000.
That opened the door for 93 new parking spots at that location, a project that began several months ago for a cost of $782,500. The parking expansion also includes renovations to the current ADA accessibility parking spots already next to the existing building, with work to improve accessibility and add six new handicapped parking spots. The new parking lot should be finished in four months.
Meanwhile, LaRocca explained that since they now have the required parking spots, they were able to move forward on a 4,500 square foot addition to the current library building, which will also include an entire re-evaluation of how they are using the current space they have.
To that end, library officials are asking the public to stop by the Slidell Library and look over 12 display boards that show almost 100 potential features in the newly-remodeled and expanded library. Visitors can stop by the main desk and receive information about how they can vote for features they would like to see in the improvements. The features can be viewed online at the library website: sttammanylibrary.org, but you have to go the actual library building to vote.
“At this point, we are very excited to finally start the expansion work for this branch. But more than anything we want the public to stop by and vote on the features they want in the new library,” LaRocca said. “We want to make sure we are building the library, and changing it as time goes along in a manner the public wants.”
Returning to the question of Internet vs. Library, LaRocca said it is clear many years later that the library “will not be going away. The library is so much more than a place to get a book—it is a social gathering place. Mom’s make friends when they bring their kids to story time and people get to meet others in some of the quilting classes or other meetings we hold here.”
LaRocca said that out of the 12 library locations in the parish, six are large and six are small. But surprisingly, the Slidell library on Robert Boulevard (there is also one in Slidell on Pontchartrain Drive) is easily the busiest of all.
“We have about 80,000 library card holders in our system, and 24 percent of them are from this branch,” she noted. “Slidell residents appreciate the library and have taken advantage of all we offer.
“We have about 760,000 books in the entire system, but also have an up-to-date technology section—you can use a computer here, rent DVD’s and more,” she added.
Looking at possible changes for the Slidell branch, the director said the need for more study rooms or meeting rooms is paramount.
“The newer libraries in our system have much more space for that, but we only have one meeting room here and we clearly need more,” she remarked. “Beyond that, however, we want to hear what the people would like this library to offer.”
LaRocca said the display boards will only be open until May 14, then the consultant they have hired will review all the information and return to the board in about two months with a plan. She hopes they will know “by the end of the year what we plan to build and how we will change the existing space,” she added.
The parish library board, which receives 93 percent of its annual funding of over $11 million from a property tax millage, has done a good job saving money. The purchase of land and construction of the new parking lot, plus a budget of $2.8 million set aside for the Slidell expansion, “will all be paid for with cash we saved,” LaRocca said.
She expects to have the new building complete and open by sometime “in late 2024. It takes a while to figure out what we are going to do, then have the bidding and construction process meet all the regulations.”