The Calcasieu Parish Public Library looks to expand its outreach services

Lake Charles, LA (KPLC) - “We come about once a week to get the kids some books to read,” said Matthew DesOrmeaux, a library Patron.

The Calcasieu Parish Public Library.

“Due to the coronavirus outbreak, we noticed that a lot of our patrons were having to do their job from their homes, and then add it on top of their destruction from Hurricanes Laura and Delta, reliable internet service became very difficult for our patrons here in our parish,” said Public Information Officer for The Calcasieu Parish Public Library Christy Comeaux.

But thanks to new funding, the library is looking to enlarge its outreach program.

“We’re fortunate enough to receive a little over $47,000,” Comeaux added.

Money that was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

“Through the American rescue plan Act, the Institute for Museum and Library Services donated a little over $3 million to the state library of Louisiana, and then the state library Louisiana donated that money through all sorts of public libraries throughout the state of Louisiana.”

Comeaux explains what the funds will be used for.

“We’re hoping to expand our outreach services through the purchase of a new van that will be able to be equipped with wifi, and we’ll also be able to travel throughout the parish to bring mobile hotspots, laptop computers, and other sorts of technology.”

Something DesOrmeaux says is a good idea.

“A lot of people out here don’t have internet at their home or even rural areas that don’t have internet service at all,” he said. “We live outside Iowa and just within the last six or seven years, we’ve gotten, you know, functional broadband speed before, it was just about unusable. So it’s good to have that option for people that don’t have that yet.”

Comeaux also says they want to serve the community as best they can. She says they love bringing the library outside its four walls and into the community.