Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center
🏢 New Orleans Public Library · New Orleans, Louisiana
Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center
Named for Rosa Freeman Keller — the first woman on New Orleans' library board and the driving force behind integration of the city's libraries in 1954 — this Broadmoor branch opened in 1993 in a 1918 historic residence and reopened in 2012 after Katrina reconstruction. NOTE: As of late 2026 this branch is temporarily closed for HVAC repairs; verify current status at nolalibrary.org before visiting.
🕑 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: 4300 South Broad Street, New Orleans, LA 70125
Phone: (504) 596-2675
Website: nolalibrary.org
Plus Code: 76XFWVXW+MM (New Orleans, LA)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center
The Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center sits at the corner of South Broad Street and Napoleon Avenue in the Broadmoor neighborhood, inside the 1918 Hardie-Fattel House — designated a New Orleans Historic Landmark in 1986. The building opened as the Broad Branch library in November 1993, serving a community that is approximately two-thirds African American, one-quarter white, and four percent Hispanic. It was renamed in October 1999 to honor Rosa Freeman Keller (1911–1998), a white civil rights advocate and Coca-Cola bottling heiress who was appointed the first woman to a citywide board in New Orleans when she joined the Public Library Board of Directors in 1953, a position she held for 26 years. In 1954, Keller was the key force behind the desegregation of the New Orleans Public Library system. The branch was destroyed by flooding during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, operated from a temporary trailer beginning in 2008, and reopened in its fully reconstructed current facility on March 17, 2012, featuring sustainable design with recycled wood paneling, skylights, a central courtyard, 28 public computers, and a community center attached. The branch offers free volunteer notary services (Saturdays 10–10:45 am by appointment), Culture Pass access to local museums, and the full NOPL digital collection. As of late 2026 the branch is temporarily closed for HVAC repairs — check nolalibrary.org for the latest status.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named for Rosa Freeman Keller (1911–1998), first woman on New Orleans' library board and the driving force behind integrating NOPL in 1954
- Housed in the 1918 Hardie-Fattel House at S. Broad & Napoleon, a New Orleans Historic Landmark in the Broadmoor neighborhood
- Rebuilt and reopened March 17, 2012 after Hurricane Katrina flooding, with sustainable design: recycled wood paneling, skylights & central courtyard
- 28 public computers, community meeting spaces, and a volunteer notary service (Saturdays, 10–10:45 am by appointment)
- TEMPORARILY CLOSED for HVAC repairs as of late 2026 — verify current status at nolalibrary.org before visiting
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
NOPL cardholders at Keller and all branches can borrow, stream, and research free through the library's digital collections:
📚 Services
- Free volunteer notary service (Saturdays 10–10:45 am, appointment required; book at nolalibrary.org/notary)
- Culture Pass — free admission to New Orleans-area museums and attractions
- 28 public computers & free Wi-Fi
- Community meeting spaces and program rooms
- Interlibrary loan (ILL)
- Libby, hoopla & Kanopy digital borrowing
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Community events and cultural programs
- Volunteer notary clinic (Saturdays by appointment)
- Adult literacy and technology assistance
- Summer Reading Program
📍 Nearby NOPL Branches in New Orleans
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in New Orleans · Browse all Louisiana libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Rosa F. Keller, and why is this library named for her?
Rosa Freeman Keller (1911–1998) was a New Orleans civil rights advocate and Coca-Cola bottling heiress who became the first woman appointed to a citywide board in New Orleans when she joined the Public Library Board in 1953 — a position she held for 26 years. In 1954 she was the driving force behind the desegregation of the New Orleans Public Library system, making it one of the first public institutions in the city to integrate. The branch at South Broad and Napoleon was renamed in her honor in October 1999, a year after her death.
What happened to this library during Hurricane Katrina, and when did it reopen?
The branch was destroyed by flooding during Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. The library operated out of a temporary trailer from 2008 while the Hardie-Fattel House was reconstructed. The rebuilt branch reopened on March 17, 2012, with sustainable design features including recycled wood paneling, skylights, a glass-walled central courtyard, and 28 public computers.
Is the Rosa F. Keller Library currently open?
As of late 2026, this branch is temporarily closed for HVAC system repairs. No confirmed reopening date has been announced. Please check nolalibrary.org/news/building-projects/ for the current status, or call the NOPL main line before visiting.
Does this branch offer notary services?
Yes — when open, the Keller branch offers free volunteer notary services on Saturdays from 10 to 10:45 am by appointment. Appointments can be booked at nolalibrary.org/notary. The service is limited to 3 documents per person per visit and is not available for commercial transactions.
🎨 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 notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.