Gillane Named Interim Lafayette Library Director

The Lafayette Public Library System has a new interim director.

The LPL Board of Control appointed Danny Gillane to that post during its meeting Monday night. He will serve in that capacity for up to six months while the board conducts a national search for a new director.

Gillane succeeds Teresa Elberson, who retired after the board rejected a Louisiana Endowment of the Humanities grant that would have funded a reading program that examined the history of voting rights in the United States. That grant later went to the University of Louisiana.

The board plans to form a committee to conduct the search for a permanent director.

Later in the meeting, members of the public broached the subject of the library's finances and a millage to fund the library on the November ballot.

Andrew Duhon, the library board's immediate past president, told the board they need to get past the "distractions" of Drag Queen Story Time and the LEH grant and focus on their work to protect the library's finances.

Later, Jean Menard asked board members if they supported the millage item that will go to voters this fall. After being pressed for an answer by audience members, all but two of the board members said "yes." Stephanie Armbruster said she wanted to review the board's finances before committing to a decision. Robert Judge, who was appointed to the board by the Lafayette Parish Council two weeks ago and was attending his first meeting as a board member, said he had not yet looked at the library's financial documents and would not rush to a decision.