HATTIESBURG -- In the same way they assist library patrons, it’s a tradition for librarians to help each other out in times of need, said University of Southern Mississippi’s University Librarian Kay Wall.

That tradition sparked a recently completed book drive for Gulf Coast libraries affected by Hurricane Katrina that netted donations of more than 4,500 books.

“We just wanted to do something to help out our colleagues on the coast, who have endured incredible hardships and are working hard to get back on their feet,” Wall said. “I thank everyone who came forth with donations of books. Libraries are important in so many ways and having those that have been severely damaged back up and running will go a long way toward the recovery of our region.”

Kaylene Behm, associate professor in University Libraries at Southern Miss, was impressed by the outpouring of support for the book drive, which included donations not only from the university community but from across the country.

“Word spread and we had donations from Florida and even a truckload of books from the University of South Dakota,” Behm said.

After hearing about the Southern Miss libraries’ book drive, the University of South Dakota’s School of Education and library, among other departments at the university, collected more than 4,000 pounds of books for delivery to Southern Miss libraries for its book drive.

The donations will be delivered to affected coast libraries once they are able to resume normal operations and house materials.

The Long Beach Public Library is one of the coast libraries that will benefit from the book drive. With its facilities battered by Katrina, the Long Beach library moved into a double-wide Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailer, according to library director Jeannie Ripoll.

The storm destroyed collections and other materials, furniture and equipment on the library’s bottom floor and in the new children’s wing. “The city has no money right now to purchase new books, so this donation is a godsend,” Ripoll said.

Kay Wall. Click to enlarge