HOUMA, La. (AP) — Terrebonne Parish resident Cherie Mahaffey says its hard to keep her temptations in check.

For almost 20 years, the youth-services manager for the Terrebonne Parish Library System has collected more than 150 Barbie dolls — a majority of which are in mint condition and original packaging.

‘‘I didn’t really start collecting them in their original boxes until I was in my teens, and yes, it was, and still is, very hard to not take them out of their boxes,’’ the 33-year old Mahaffey said.

You can view her collection at an exhibit, Barbie Galore, through July at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library in Houma.

‘‘I own close to 200 (Barbies) altogether,’’ said Mahaffey who started playing with the Mattel toy at 5. ‘‘My mother Helen and her sister, Bonnie, are the reason I fell in love with Barbies. They started my sister and I off and it has been a love of mine ever since.’’

Mahaffey said she can even remember the exact date she received her first barbie: Christmas 1980.

‘‘My sister got the Western Barbie and Ken, and I got the Malibu Barbie and Ken,’’ she said.

Mahaffey said she didn’t set out to collect Barbies, but she kept getting them as presents so it was natural to amass a posse of dolls.

‘‘Before I knew it, I had quite a few on my hands,’’ she said. ‘‘This is the first time I’ve ever displayed them in public.’’

After poked and prodded by the Library System’s assistant director, Amy Whipple, Mahaffey gave in and decided it was time for the public to see her doll fascination.

‘‘At first I was hesitant because they are my ’babies,’ but I eventually decided to share them with others,’’ she said.

The collection has brought back many memories for generations of local women and girls that have seen them.

‘‘The display is really cool,’’ said Merita Theriot of Montegut, a children’s department staff member at the Main Library. ‘‘When I first saw the collection I had to laugh because there are several I remember from my younger days’’

The collection means a lot to Mahaffey

‘‘I have never had the collection appraised, but sentimentally they are worth a lot: priceless,’’ she said.

While Mahaffey is partial to Barbies with dark hair, her favorite is California Dreamin Midge.

‘‘She’s so special to me because at the time when I got her, my mom and dad were working through some financial difficulties,’’ Mahaffey said. ‘‘My siblings and I knew not to ask for toys; they would come only for very special occasions. That particular doll was one that I saw in the store and desperately wanted.’’

With 28 years of collecting and receiving Barbies, Mahaffey said she still finds herself buying more.

‘‘I got four last year from the Diamond Castle series, and my mom bought me seven or eight for my Christmas/birthday combo two years ago,’’ she said.

The Library System employee said it’s not unusual for her to browse eBay for hard-to-find dolls.

‘‘There are a few I would still like to own, so I keep my eyes open for those,’’ she said.

Each of the 200 dolls has different names and nicknames, although she has forgotten a few of them.

‘‘Every one of them couldn’t be Barbie, Teresa of Midge, so I usually called them whatever name I liked at the time,’’ Mahaffey said.

And advice for future collectors: ‘‘Make sure that you have the room to store your collection so you can keep them in their original boxes because they are worth more in mint condition,’’ she said. ‘‘But most importantly, collect something you love.’’

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Information from: The Courier, http://www.houmatoday.com