In 1999 the population of St. Tammany Parish was booming, and like most other public entities, the library system felt the pinch.

In response to the rapid growth in the Mandeville area, the library system began searching for a location for a new library.

Lacking the capital improvement funds needed to pay for expanding the Mandeville branch on Girod Street or building a new building, Interim Director Donald Westmoreland, said the system realized its only options was to lease a site.

The Causeway branch of the St. Tammany Parish library is celebrating its 10th anniversary serving the Mandeville area. (Staff Photo by Suzanne Le Breton)

A vacant bay in the Pontchartrain Square Shopping Center was located, leased and renovations began in July of that year.

A mural, created by local artist, Wallace Faucheau, depicting an English reading room was painted on one wall and is a major visual focal point in the branch.

On Nov. 15 of that year, the system opened the Causeway branch.

In 2004 and adjacent storefront was leased and the branch was expanded.

While Westmoreland said paying more than $100,000 a year to lease the site in addition to the money the system paid on renovating it so it could be used as a library is not ideal, the thought of people using the facility daily indicates its need.

On opening day, 20 people came into the branch. Today an average of 378 people visit the branch materials from a collection of 10,100 items. Today, the Causeway Branch’s 9,382 registered library cardholders can choose from more than 47,000 items.

“Strategically,” he said, “its in a very good place.”

He added that every year the branch sees a 10 percent increase in circulation,

“The use of this branch is phenomenal,” he said.

He said the system, when funding becomes available, would like to eventually be able to build a new branch or add on to the Girod Street branch and discontinue the lease, but he said that will only happen if voters approve a milage for the libraries.

To celebrate the branch’s 10th anniversary, librarians have placed on display photographs showing the many changes in the branch and some of the various programs that have been offered there.

The library system will also throw the branch a birthday party on Nov. 16 at 4:30 p.m.

The party will include a performance by Fuzzlebob, a local performer and a perennial favorite at the library.

Each birthday party participant will receive a Fuzzlebob balloon sculpture and a cupcake. The event is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.