Special to the American Press

The Calcasieu Parish Public Library and thec city of Lake Charles are happy to announce a partnership that will allow for a temporary location for the Epps Memorial Library.

The location will be inside of the Corporal Donald Ray Stevens Community Center, located at 1619 Cessford St. and will officially open on Monday, March 25, with a grand opening celebration featuring Dr. Seuss themed activities for all ages.

An official ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 4 pm.

Families are invited to stop by the Community Center from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. for an array of programs, including a special story time, scavenger hunt, crafts, Story Walk, and more, with refreshments provided by the library.

“We can’t wait to reopen the Epps branch in partnership with the City of Lake Charles,” said Marjorie Harrison, Calcasieu Parish Public Library Executive Director.  “We are thrilled to be back in a neighborhood serving patrons of all ages. Our friendly staff members are ready to see everyone again!”

The temporary library will be open Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm and will include a variety of resources and services including free wi-fi, public computers, copy/print capabilities, a variety of materials, and more.

The opening comes 3 months after a fire destroyed the previous temporary location.

“We are thrilled to see this partnership come to life and to see the doors of Epps Memorial Library open at Cpl. Donald Ray Stevens Community Center,” expressed District A Lake Charles City Councilman Ronnie Harvey. “As an educator and a parent, I know the value and importance of having access to the resources our public libraries provide. While we all look forward to the day we cut the ribbon on the fully reconstructed Epps branch, we are thankful to have the opportunity to come together to provide this temporary solution.”

After Category 4 Hurricane Laura and Category 2 Delta, the Epps Memorial Library became uninhabitable due to severe damage and officials deemed the building a total loss.

Thanks to a $20,000 donation from the American Library Association’s (ALA) Disaster Relief Fund, the Calcasieu Parish Public Library was able to acquire a portable building that provided regular, daily library service to Epps patrons.

However, with construction on a new library looming, officials had to move services to a temporary location on North MLK Highway.

In late December of 2023, a fire destroyed the temporary facility, leaving the library to ask community leaders for help in finding yet another temporary home for the Epps Library.

That’s when the city of Lake Charles stepped in and offered a partnership to bring the temporary location to the Corporal Donald Ray Stevens Community Center.

“The Epps Memorial Library has been a vital part of this community for decades and we are honored to be a part of reopening it in its temporary new home at the Corporal Donald Ray Stevens Community Center,” added Mayor Nic Hunter. “Easy access to a public library is essential for every neighborhood as is access to neighborhood parks and community centers. This partnership just makes sense, and we look forward to seeing community members take full advantage of the services offered. We all anxiously look forward to welcoming patrons to the fully rebuilt Epps branch in the future.”

Library officials are also happy to report that plans to rebuild the Epps Memorial Library at the N. Simmons St. location are now in motion, with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury advertising for bids.

“We know that the citizens of north Lake Charles will be excited to learn that the wheels are now moving to rebuild the Epps Memorial Library,” mentioned Christy Comeaux, Public Information Officer for the Library.  “It’s something we’re excited for and something for the citizens to get excited for!”

Library officials hope that the new state-of-the-art Epps Memorial Library will be open by the end of 2025.

The library will include many new features and additions, including a programming room, study rooms, a community room, and more.

The library plans to keep the public informed on the rebuilding process.

“The best way to stay up to date on the rebuilding process is to visit our website at www.calcasieulibrary.org or follow the library on social media,” added Comeaux.

In 2019, the Epps Memorial Library welcomed over 27,000 visitors and hosted well over 1,100 library programs with over 14,000 patrons in attendance. Over 28,000 items were checked out and the meeting room was utilized 883 times.