On January 12, 2010, several earthquakes struck the Republic of Haiti. Our hearts are with the people of Haiti as well as the staff and community members who have family there. The BPL is a community gathering place and that role becomes ever more important at times like this. Mattapan is a cultural center for Boston’s Haitian community and the BPL will focus community support efforts there as well as in Copley Square and other branches.

The Earthquakes and Relief Efforts

State Department number for Americans seeking information about family in Haiti:
1-888-407-4747

• Updated: Support information from the Office of the Mayor (English | Kreyol) including details on the Referral and Support center at
  
  
  • Mattapan Public Library
    1350 Blue Hill Avenue
    Mattapan, MA 02126-1843
    
  • Hours
    

    Tuesday 2/2 & 2/9	2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
    Thursday 2/4 & 2/11	2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
    Saturday 2/6 & 2/13	12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

• Red Cross Family Links – database individuals assisted by the Red Cross and of those seeking family members
• Temporary protected status for Haitians living in the U.S.
  • Information from the Office of New Bostonians
• Planet Konpa (89.3 FM) offers live streaming coverage from Haiti online at Planet Compas
  • More Haitian radio stations in Boston
• Boston's State of Emergency - A benefit gospel concert to raise funds for Haiti on Saturday, February 27, 2010. Location to be announced.
• CNN's list of charitable organizations supporting Haiti
• MSNBC's list of charitable organizations supporting Haiti
• NPR Twitter feed
• Boston Public Library resources
  • On Disaster relief
  • Newsbank Special Reports
  • Gale Global Issues In Context

Boston-based Information

• Boston Haitian Reporter
• Boston.com Boston-area resources for relief and support
• Boston.com Twitter feed

Helping Children Cope With Disaster and Grief

• Boston Medical Center
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network
• Boston Public Library Resources

 

About Haiti

• Haiti Reference - A website about Haiti created and maintained by BPL reference librarian Jean Antoine.
• Boston Public Library resources on Haiti
  • Books
  • Maps (from the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center)
  • Haiti Exhibit at the Central Library
  • Gale Virtual Reference Center

Compiled by the Government Documents and Social Sciences departments
of the Central Library, and the Kirstein Business Library.