Alvar Library
🏢 New Orleans Public Library · New Orleans, Louisiana
Alvar Library
A single-room Works Progress Administration gem tucked between the Mississippi River and St. Claude Avenue, the Alvar Library opened in 1940 and has survived demolition threats, Hurricane Katrina, and decades of neighborhood change to remain one of Bywater's most beloved cultural spaces. As of August 2025 it is temporarily closed for HVAC repairs; check nolalibrary.org for its reopening date.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Temporarily closed — check nolalibrary.org |
| Tuesday | Temporarily closed — check nolalibrary.org |
| Wednesday | Temporarily closed — check nolalibrary.org |
| Thursday | Temporarily closed — check nolalibrary.org |
| Friday | Temporarily closed — check nolalibrary.org |
| Saturday | Temporarily closed — check nolalibrary.org |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 913 Alvar Street, New Orleans, LA 70117
Phone: (504) 596-2667
Website: nolalibrary.org
Plus Code: 76XFXX77+H7 (New Orleans, LA)
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📖 About Alvar Library
The Alvar Library sits at 913 Alvar Street in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans, a compact, single-room branch built by the Works Progress Administration and opened in 1940. It retains the Art Deco brickwork and modest scale of its Depression-era origins. The building's survival has required remarkable community determination: in 1977, when the city proposed demolishing it, a neighborhood association president chained himself to the building to halt the plan, helping secure funds for repairs completed in 1982. When closure threatened again in 1986, volunteers staffed the library themselves for 19 years until the city stepped back in. Hurricane Katrina brought about a foot of water into the branch in 2005, ruining its collection and equipment, but the library was restored and reopened on June 25, 2006. Today it serves as both a lending library and an intimate venue for author talks, writing workshops, storytimes, and musical performances — one of Bywater's most-used cultural anchors. As of August 5, 2025, the branch is temporarily closed for HVAC repairs; patrons should check nolalibrary.org for current status.
⭐ What makes this library special
- A Works Progress Administration building opened in 1940, with original Art Deco brickwork
- Saved from demolition in 1977 when a neighborhood association president chained himself to the building
- Community volunteers staffed it from 1986 for 19 years after another closure threat
- Reopened June 25, 2006 after Hurricane Katrina flooding damaged the collection
- Temporarily closed since August 5, 2025 for HVAC repairs — check nolalibrary.org for reopening
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
While the branch is closed, New Orleans Public Library cardholders can access these free digital resources from anywhere:
📚 Services
- Book, audiobook, DVD, and magazine lending (when open)
- Public computers, free Wi-Fi, and printing
- Interlibrary loan through NOPL
- Author talks, writing workshops, and community performances
- Culture Pass for free museum and cultural venue entry
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
🎸 Programs
- Author talks and writing workshops
- Storytimes and youth programs
- Musical performances and community events
- Summer reading challenge
📍 Nearby Libraries in New Orleans
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in New Orleans · Browse all Louisiana libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Alvar Library currently open?
As of August 5, 2025, the Alvar Library is temporarily closed for HVAC repairs. Check nolalibrary.org or call (504) 596-2667 for current status and the expected reopening date.
Why is the Alvar Library considered historically significant?
The Alvar Library was built by the Works Progress Administration and opened in 1940, making it one of New Orleans's Depression-era public buildings still in active use. Its survival is also a story of community determination: in 1977 a neighborhood association president chained himself to the building to block demolition, and in 1986 volunteers staffed the library themselves for nearly two decades to keep it open.
What happened to the Alvar Library during Hurricane Katrina?
In August 2005 the branch took on roughly a foot of water during Hurricane Katrina, destroying books, computers, and furnishings. After restoration work the library reopened on June 25, 2006.
What kinds of events does the Alvar Library host?
Despite being a compact, single-room branch, Alvar regularly hosts author talks, writing workshops, storytimes, and musical performances. Patrons often describe the historic WPA-era space as a uniquely intimate backdrop for Bywater's literary and cultural community.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
👶 This library runs story times for kids. See how library story times work — ages, what happens and that they are free — and find other libraries with story-time programs library story times by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.