Two longtime booster groups for the New Orleans Public Library have officially tied the knot, combining into a single nonprofit now known as the Library Foundation of New Orleans. Leaders announced Wednesday that the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library and the New Orleans Public Library Foundation have consolidated in a bid to expand programming, beef up fundraising and streamline advocacy for the city’s branch system.
The groups say the merger is meant to put all the money, muscle and messaging under one roof so patrons feel the impact where it counts, in neighborhood branches. Demetric Mercadel, the foundation’s board president, told WWL-TV that "they are on a payment plan set up by the courts and everything is moving smoothly just as planned," and executive director Shannan Cvitanovic told the station the combined group is now "a stronger, more efficient partner for our public library system." Officials said donor outreach and event programming will be consolidated under the new name in the coming weeks.
Background: The Mayfield Case
The merger arrives in the long shadow of a high-profile scandal that first surfaced in 2015, when reporting revealed that library donations had been diverted. The U.S. Department of Justice says musician Irvin Mayfield and his associate Ronald Markham later pleaded guilty and were sentenced in 2021, and federal records show the court ordered roughly $1,123,032 in restitution as part of their sentences.
Finances And Next Steps
Recent tax filings suggest the foundation is entering this new chapter with modest operating revenue and some shortfalls. Nonprofit data from ProPublica show the New Orleans Public Library Foundation reported about $58,980 in revenue and roughly $93,605 in expenses for 2024, a net loss of about $34,625, while still holding roughly $1.31 million in net assets.
Board leaders say the strategy is straightforward, combine the Friends’ volunteer-run book sales and community programming with the foundation’s stewardship of long-term assets so fundraising feels less confusing and more trustworthy. Library staff, volunteers and longtime donors will be watching to see whether the newly formed Library Foundation of New Orleans can turn this reorganization into steadier grant support and more consistent local programming at branches across the city.
