The Louisiana Gulf Coast Herpetological Society needs your help!


As everyone knows, on August 29, 2005 the largest natural disaster in the history of the United States occurred when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast region .We all have heard and told the stories of evacuating with our animals - from trying to get them into hotel rooms to being trapped on roof tops with them. What we did not realize at the time was the loss of private book collections that some of us experienced. Many of the books served as important references to the natural history, conservation, health and captive husbandry of the animals we cherish.

As a service to our members, the Louisiana Gulf Coast Herpetological Society board of directors unanimously approved the formation of the LGCHS herpetological library, which will be composed of material related to reptiles and amphibians. This library will be entirely dependent on donations from anyone within or outside of our membership, who may be generous enough to contribute to our situation and cause. Although we are still a long way from recovering from this tragedy, we are asking everyone to pitch in and look through their collections to see if they have any books, magazines, journals, tapes, or any other related material that you wish to donate. Please contact LGCHS librarian Joe Mathis (504-416-6001) to make a donation.

Donations can also be brought to any function that the LGCHS attends, including the monthly meetings, field trips, reptile shows, or any festivals where our organization is officially present. In addition, donations may also be mailed to LGCHS, c/o LGCHS Library, P. O. Box 113483, Metairie, LA 70011-3483. Lastly, monetary donations will be accepted as well as recommendations from our members on what they would like to see in this library.

The procedures, as well as a list of material are available on our website under ‘Library’ for persons interested in checking out books.

Thank you for your generosity,


Joe Mathis
LGCHS Librarian

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