ShreveRead
February
6
Wallette Branch
In 1932, librarian Lois White Henderson approached the Shreve Memorial
Library Board of Control to request library services for African American
residents of Caddo Parish. Her request resulted in the creation of the Lakeside
Branch, which opened in 1933 at 1852 Milam Street. The library was staffed
on a partially volunteer basis. In November of 1933, the Board received a
request for a fully funded branch library. By 1935, the Library supported a
paid staff member and rental costs for the facility. In 1950, the lack of service
to the black community was criticized, including an editorial published in the
Shreveport Sun "deploring the inadequate library service extended to the
Negro population." Librarian Lois White, after speaking to the Editor, initiated
a discussion that suggested that a new branch be considered, perhaps in
conjunction with Mayor Clyde Fant "confer[ring] with a committee of Negro
leaders to see what could be done." In the subsequent months, Mayor Fant
approved the use of the Booker T. Washington High School grounds for the
new Lakeside Branch, which used the same plans as the 1949 Caddo Heights Branch Library.
The Lakeside Branch was dedicated on February 18, 1951. Otis Emmanuel, a Master of Library Science, was
the first librarian, assisted by Bernadine Emerson. Outreach programs at the branch included a circulation
station and juvenile story time at the Elamito Terrace Apartments. The Lakeside Branch was, and would remain
until the 1960s, the Library's only outlet for service to African American citizens. Bookmobile service, which
began in 1957, helped to extend service to Caddo's black community. In 1964, the branch was remodeled and
approximately doubled in size, bringing the total square footage to 1,758.
The 1996 capital tax issue funded a new building to replace the decades-old Lakeside, which was renamed
for longtime Shreve Memorial Library Board of Control member Mavice Colley Wallette. Designed by Bill C.
Beebe of Morgan, Hill, Sutton, and Mitchell, who also designed the award-winning J. S. Clark Middle School
located next door to the library. Featuring brightly colored metal hoods mirroring the color scheme of the
school, small windows of colored glass, Ghanian wooden stools, and Kente cloth hangings, the new facility
opened on February 5, 2000, with 9,043 square feet of available space. The land was acquired through an
agreement between the Library and the Caddo Parish School Board, which received the old Broadmoor,
Lakeside, and North Caddo buildings, plus an additional sum, to the School Board in payment for the property.
As part of the same transfer, the Library received an additional building, the former Vivian Elementary School,
which was remodeled to serve as the North Caddo branch.
Spotlight on SML: Wallette and MooRetown Branches
what do you
geek
?
broadmoor
geeks
BritLit
Jane Austin is the emphasis of the February Film Series at Broadmoor!
Tuesday, February 4 @ 6:30 PM
Emma (1996)
Monday, February 10 @ 6:00 PM
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Tuesday, February 18 @ 6:00 PM
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Tuesday, February 25 @ 6:30 PM
Becoming Jane (2007)
main
geeks
BlackHistory
All About Black History
February 28 @ 6:30 - 9:00 PM (After Hours)
davidraines
geeks
MardiGras
&FamousAfricanAmericans
Displays throughout the library!