Episode Details

Danny Gillane, Director of the Lafayette Public Library System, joins Discover Lafayette for a timely conversation about the evolving role of our parish libraries and the tax renewal on the ballot Saturday, May 16, 2026.

Gillane has served Lafayette’s library system for nearly two decades, following earlier work with public and academic libraries including UL-Lafayette and the Louisiana State Library. He earned a master’s degree in library science from Louisiana State University.

Serving Lafayette Parish through nine branches, the system has grown steadily over the past two decades, with major regional libraries in Carencro, Youngsville, Scott, and Lafayette, alongside smaller satellite locations embedded in community centers. Gillane emphasizes that the system’s mission extends far beyond books and is a community asset offering a treasure trove of resources. “The whole community pays for the library. So we are a shared resource,” he explains. “There’s no money transaction when you walk through the door.”