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LAPLACE — A wing of the Central Branch Library on U.S. 51 in LaPlace is expected to reopen to the community by this spring, according to St. John Parish Library Director Andrea Tullos.

The Central Branch’s 6,000 square foot administration wing, measuring roughly the same size as the Garyville branch, will soon become a public space with library programming, a children’s nook, a teen area and a reduced but current collection of books available for check-out. Public computers and laptops will be available inside the facility. Three meeting rooms will also be available on-site, including a larger space that fits 20 to 25 people and two smaller spaces that can seat eight to 10.

Tullos said renovating the administration wing was the fastest solution to reinstating public library access in LaPlace. Insurance hurdles still stand in the way of repairing the Central Branch’s main building, which remains gutted nearly a year and a half post Hurricane Ida. At 10 years old, the administration building is newer than the main part of the facility and sustained far less damage from the storm, allowing for a rebuild with less financial impact.

“We are waiting on insurance for the LaPlace Library. However, in order to provide services, we are getting something going with the administration wing so we can at least have public access in LaPlace,” Tullos said. “We went through the bid process and the contractor started working on January 3. It is supposed to be a three or four month rebuild, and they are a little ahead of schedule, so I am hoping we are open sometime around late March.”

Administration offices for library employees will still be located on-site but will now be bunked together to allow more space for library services.

Additional updates on the Library System can be obtained by calling 985-652-6857, visiting stjohnlib.com or following St. John the Baptist Parish Library on social media.