History of the Rapides Parish Library
The Rapides
Parish Library began as an experimental "demonstration" library project
by the Louisiana State Library in the early 1940s. During the 1930s,
Louisiana's rural population was one of the least read sections of the
nation, and so the State Library undertook a bold project to provide
Louisiana residents with library materials. Several temporary
"demonstration" library projects were set up across Louisiana with
state funding in order to show local communities the benefits which a
permanent public library system could provide.
The Rapides Parish Library was the largest of these projects, and it
officially opened for business on January 16, 1942 with the opening of
the Alexandria Branch.
In
the weeks that followed, branches opened in Pineville, Boyce,
Cheneyville, Lecompte, Glenmora, and Tioga. To provide reading
materials to the many servicemen located in central Louisiana during
the Second World War, the demonstration project also opened branches at
Camp Beauregard and the USO at 8th and Casson Streets in Alexandria.
Another major component of the Rapides Parish Library's demonstration
project was the Bookmobile service,which proved extremely popular with
children and adults across the parish.
Online books, games, and activities for children brought to you by the Rapides Parish Library and Tumblebooks.com
