East New Orleans Regional Library
🏢 New Orleans Public Library · New Orleans, Louisiana
East New Orleans Regional Library
The regional library for New Orleans East — the sprawling section of the city that stretches toward the wetlands and Lake Pontchartrain — the East New Orleans Regional Library opened in 1968 as the largest branch in the system. The original building was completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, but the rebuilt facility on Read Boulevard reopened in 2012 as a modern, light-filled anchor for one of the city's most populous and determined communities.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–7pm |
| Thursday | 10am–7pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 5641 Read Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70127
Phone: (504) 596-3500
Website: nolalibrary.org
Plus Code: 862G22JH+J3 (New Orleans, LA)
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📖 About East New Orleans Regional Library
The East New Orleans Regional Library opened in 1968 on Read Boulevard as the largest branch in the New Orleans Public Library system, built to serve the rapidly growing residential neighborhoods of New Orleans East. The area east of the Industrial Canal was among the hardest-hit parts of the city when Hurricane Katrina's levee failures caused catastrophic flooding in 2005, and the original library building was completely destroyed. After seven years of closure, a rebuilt facility opened in 2012 on the same Read Boulevard corridor, designed with large windows that frame the natural surroundings of adjacent Joe W. Brown Memorial Park and the Louisiana Nature Center. Since reopening it has served not only as a lending library and program space but as a center for community recovery, hosting day camps, after-school programming, book clubs, and mobile-support services for returning residents. It remains the primary NOPL resource library for the extensive New Orleans East community and is open six days a week with evening hours Monday through Thursday.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened in 1968 as the largest branch in the New Orleans Public Library system
- Serves New Orleans East, one of the city's largest residential sections, stretching toward Lake Pontchartrain
- Original building completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina; rebuilt facility opened in 2012
- Modern design with large windows overlooking Joe W. Brown Memorial Park and Louisiana Nature Center
- Has hosted day camps, after-school programs, book clubs, and community recovery services since reopening
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
East New Orleans Regional cardholders can access these free digital resources with their NOPL card:
📚 Services
- Book, audiobook, DVD, magazine, and e-resource lending
- Public computers, free Wi-Fi, and printing
- Interlibrary loan through NOPL
- Community meeting and program spaces
- Culture Pass for free museum and cultural venue entry
- After-school and day camp programming for youth
🎸 Programs
- Day camps and after-school programming
- Book clubs and adult reading programs
- Children's storytimes and Take & Make craft kits
- Teen and youth activities
- Community recovery and support programs
- 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
What area does the East New Orleans Regional Library serve?
It serves New Orleans East, the large section of the city east of the Industrial Canal that stretches toward the wetlands and Lake Pontchartrain. Because it is a regional branch, it is designed to be the primary library resource for a large residential population rather than a single neighborhood.
What happened to the East New Orleans Regional Library during Hurricane Katrina?
The original 1968 building was completely destroyed by flooding after the Hurricane Katrina levee failures in 2005. The library remained closed for seven years before a rebuilt facility opened on the same Read Boulevard site in 2012.
What makes the rebuilt East New Orleans Regional Library distinctive?
The 2012 facility was designed with large windows overlooking Joe W. Brown Memorial Park and the nearby Louisiana Nature Center, bringing natural light into the building and showcasing the greenspace that surrounds it. Community members have described it as one of the most beautiful libraries in the city.
Does East New Orleans Regional offer youth programs?
Yes. The branch has a robust youth-focused program calendar, including after-school activities, day camps, and children's storytimes. It also hosts book clubs and community recovery programs that have been central to the area's post-Katrina rebuilding effort.
🎨 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.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.