The Hayes Library opened April 10, 1944. It was located in Martin's Store and Mrs. Emma Martin was the first Branch Manager. Library hours were Mondays and Thursdays, 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. There were several locations that the Hayes Library was stationed including the Post Office where it was for four years.
The library filled a few shelves in the lobby. Both the library and the Post Office moved across the highway. The collection grew and a dividing wall had to be installed between the two with separate entrances. In 1979, the Post Office moved out and the library filled the entire building. However, bigger quarters were soon needed. The library then moved to a former tenant house at 7709 Perier Street in1986. Like many other of the library buildings throughout the parish, it needed repairs. These repairs came courtesy of the Capital Improvement Program. Work was completed and the library reopened in September, 1993.
On December 23, 2009, the Calcasieu Parish Public Library merged the Bell City and Hayes branches. The merger enabled more enhanced service to the area. The two branches were 1.2 miles apart. The Hayes Library absorbed Bell City's 8 hours to be opened Monday through Friday, 2:00-6:00 p.m. The same staff that previously worked both locations continue to serve patrons. The Hayes branch has more CDs, Books-on-CD, DVDs and magazines as a result of the merger, and the number of computers at Hayes has doubled. Public Wifi is available at Hayes. The Hayes branch opened for service to the public on Monday, December 28, 2009. The building is approximately 950 square feet with a collection size of 7700+.
