KEY TAKEAWAYS: New Orleans Public Library reopened its renovated Children’s Resource Center on Oct. 3 after extensive structural repairs. The 118-year-old building on Magazine Street is the city’s second-oldest operating library and one of two remaining Carnegie libraries. The center focus es on children from birth through age 5, offering interactive play areas, educational materials and early literacy programming. The facility will serve as the library system’s hub for early childhood literacy initiatives while continuing to provide limited services for patrons of all ages.   The New Orleans Public Library has reopened its newly renovated Children’s Resource Center on Magazine Street, transforming one of the city’s oldest library buildings into a dedicated early learning space for young children and their caregivers. The library celebrated the reopening Oct. 3 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community open house at the 118-year-old building at the corner of Magazine Street and Napoleon Avenue. The event featured storytimes, crafts, music and a visit from a firetruck. Formerly known as the Napoleon Branch Library, the Children’s Resource Center is the second-oldest operating library location in New Orleans. The building opened Jan. 31, 1908, and is one of two remaining Carnegie libraries in the city. The facility closed in May 2025 for significant structural repairs. During the renovation, library officials decided to restore the building’s focus on early childhood learning, a move aligned with the library system’s 10-year strategic plan, which identifies low early literacy rates as a major community concern. City Librarian and Executive Director Emily Painton said the center was originally established in the 1990s to address similar literacy needs but gradually expanded into a traditional library serving patrons of all ages. “As we cut the ribbon on this long-awaited project, we open the doors to a thoughtfully and intentionally designed place for early learners and their caregivers to fall in love with reading together, strengthening community learning for generations to come,” Painton said. The renovated center primarily serves children from birth through age 5, with interactive play areas designed for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. It also features a collection of books and educational materials intended to help families develop early literacy and school-readiness skills. Under the leadership of Morgan Hanrahan, a team of early literacy professionals will oversee the center’s programming and resources. The facility will serve as the library system’s central hub for early childhood literacy initiatives, providing educational activities and opportunities for young children to develop social and learning skills. Mayor Helena Moreno participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony and emphasized the importance of investing in early childhood education. “This project shows our commitment to investing in the future of the children of New Orleans,” Moreno said. “It is important to the health and strength of our city, because every child in this city deserves a place where they can discover books, develop a love of reading, use their imagination, and simply be a kid.” Although the center emphasizes early childhood education, it remains open to visitors of all ages. The facility maintains a small collection of popular adult books, and library cardholders can continue picking up reserved materials and returning borrowed items. The New Orleans Public Library traces its origins to 1843 and operates 15 locations throughout Orleans Parish. The renovated Children’s Resource Center is part of the system’s broader effort to expand educational resources and improve literacy outcomes across the city. ...read more read less