There’s a new community library in Shreveport. Here’s what you need to know

The Highland Center is holding a grand opening of the new neighbor-led lending library on Saturday, August 20 from 10 a.m. - Noon in the heart of the Highland neighborhood.

The new Highland Community Library will have hundreds of books for all ages in addition to a computer lab, printer and meeting space. Creswell Elementary School librarian Erin Berry has organized this new space in hopes of making sure local students and their families would have access to books year-round.

"Particularly with the downtown Shreve Memorial branch closed for renovations, there isn't a community space for our neighborhood kids to discover a new book, access the Internet or play indoors," said Berry. "Books are borrowed on the honor system and we invite guests to bring and take donations at the Grand Opening, too."

The Noel Foundation provided a grant to the Highland Center which allowed them to develop a full Resource Center that includes evening HiSET high school equivalency classes, IT Help Hours and financial support services.

More in the Community: The Robinson Film Center unveils the newly renovated event space upstairs at Abby Singer's

Support from the Rotary Club of Shreveport has allowed the Highland Center's library and other social services to open on Saturdays and to include exercise programs in the in the gymnasium.

"This project is only the tip of the iceberg for the amazing work that is happening as we stabilize and grow this anchor institution of Highland," said Highland Center Executive Director Madison Poche. "After the threat of closing our doors three years ago, we want our neighbors to know that the Highland Center Ministries continue our daily services and that our building is excited to rent office space to new partners."

The ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the Highland Community Library will take place at 10:30 a.m. with a tour of the new space to follow. There will be complimentary coffee and biscuits from Shreveport Cottage Homestead.

The Highland Community Library is located at 520 Olive St. in Shreveport.

Meredith G. White is the arts and culture reporter for the Shreveport Times. You can find her on Facebook as Meredith G. White, on Instagram and Twitter as @meredithgwhite, and email her at mgwhite@gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: The Highland Center in Shreveport hosts grand opening for new library