Louisville Free Public Library

The Louisville Free Public Library was created in 1902 by an act of the Kentucky State Legislature, and in 1904 it merged with the Polytechnic Society of Kentucky. Services began in 1905 when the Polytechnic Society's collection, held in the top floor of the Kaufman-Straus Building, was open to the public.{{cite news |date=February 13, 1901 |title=NEW LIBRARY: Will Be Built By Polytechnic Society. FIVE-STORY BUILDING ON THE SITE OF THE PRESENT STRUCTURE. TO COST ABOUT $150,000. Four Stories Will Probably Be Leased To Kaufman, Straus & Co. FIFTH FOR THE LIBRARY. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-polytechnic-society/147042304/ |page=8 |work=The Courier-Journal |via=newspapers.com |access-date=May 10, 2024 |archive-date=May 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511013741/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-polytechnic-society/147042304/ |url-status=live }} Although the Main Library was completed in 1906, patron services did not officially begin until 1908.{{cite book |author=Louisville Free Public Library Board of Trustees |title=Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Louisville Free Public Library (1905–1911)|url=https://archive.org/details/annualreport69librgoog |location= Louisville, Kentucky |access-date= November 20, 2017 }}

Additional branches were added over time, including the Western Colored Branch, which was the first Carnegie-housed library in the U.S. built solely for African Americans. Thomas Fountain Blue was appointed head of the Colored Branch in 1905 as well as the Eastern Colored Branch when it opened in 1914; he also started the first library training program for African Americans in the United States.{{cite thesis |type=MA |last1=Burress |first1=Jacob Carlton |title=The colored librarian: Thomas F. Blue and the Louisville Free Public Library's Colored Department, 1905–1935 |date=2016 |publisher=University of Louisville |location=Louisville, Kentucky |page=3 |doi=10.18297/etd/2420 |doi-access=free }}

At one time LFPL had over 30 branches, but a number of them were forced to close due to lack of funding. Currently, there are 16 branches, in addition to the main library site. Internet services and inter-library loan have helped to make up for having fewer branches.

The infamous Flood of 1937 damaged both the Portland and Main branches. Since 1908 a museum was opened to the public in the basement of the York Street branch. After the devastating flood, the museum was temporary relocated to the Monserrat school. In 1971, the museum moved downtown to West Main Street to become what is now the Kentucky Science Center.

In 1950, the library established WFPL ("Free Public Library") as an educational radio station and then opened WFPK as a classical radio station in 1954. The library was the first library in the nation to put its own FM-radio station on the air. Both were donated in 1993 to help found Louisville Public Media.

In 2007, a proposed tax increase to pay for Louisville Free Public Library improvements and ongoing costs was soundly defeated in spite of strong support by many political and business leaders. Nonetheless, with the help of the Library Foundation and community support, a new education and technology-driven, $1.9 million branch library{{cite web|url=http://www.louisvilleky.gov/Mayor/News/2009/8-14-09+Newburg+library+preview.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113183233/http://www.louisvilleky.gov/Mayor/News/2009/8-14-09+Newburg+library+preview.htm |archivedate=November 13, 2009 |title=Mayor Leads "Sneak Peek" of Newburg Library - 2009 - LouisvilleKy.gov |date= |accessdate=July 23, 2019}} was completed and opened in the Newburg area (a traditionally underserved community) in August 2009.

In early August 2009 the main branch was flooded when a storm dropped 7 inches (18 cm) of water on the city in 75 minutes. The library servers, bookmobiles, offices, and processing rooms were under 6 feet (180 cm) of water. 50,000 books were destroyed, and the building severely damaged, with a total estimate of $5 million. Structural, mechanical, electrical, and computer systems damage were near complete, forcing the main library to close for several weeks. Other branches in the system in hard-hit areas were closed for a few days while damage was assessed and cleanup undertaken. The library system itself remained open for business throughout the event. The last time the main building had flooded was in the Ohio River flood of 1937. Three other branches of the library system were damaged or affected in the flooding as well: Bon Air Regional Branch, Iroquois Branch, and Shawnee Branch libraries. Despite the level of damage, library services at all branches, including the main, were able to return to near full service.

The Main Library serves as a central hub to the library system, including facilities, content management, and administration. In addition to the Main Library, LFPL has 16 branch libraries. The main library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.{{cite web|url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/80001608_text|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Louisville Free Public Library|publisher=National Park Service|author=|date=|accessdate=October 15, 2020|archive-date=May 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510234340/https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/80001608_text|url-status=live}} With {{NRHP url|id=80001608|photos=y|title=accompanying pictures}}

The majority of LFPL's employees are employed through a collective bargaining agreement between AFSCME Local 3425 and Louisville Metro Government.

• Bennett H. Young, founder.
• Mayor Charles F. Grainger, founder.
• Marilla Waite Freeman, the library's Head of Reference from its opening until 1910, who would go on to become one of the most well-known librarians in the country

{{reflist}}

• {{Citation |publisher = The Library |title = Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Louisville Free Public Library |date = 1905 |oclc = 1644732 |ol=20486125M }}
• {{Citation |location = Louisville, Kentucky |publisher=Louisville Free Public Library |title = Some books in the Louisville Free Public Library of interest to Catholic readers |author = Louisville Free Public Library |year = 1914 |oclc = 8107487 |ol=6581880M}}

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• {{Official website|https://www.lfpl.org/}}

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Category:1902 establishments in Kentucky

Category:Public libraries in Kentucky

Category:Libraries in Louisville, Kentucky

Category:Local landmarks in Louisville, Kentucky

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Louisville, Kentucky

Category:Carnegie libraries in Kentucky

Category:Government of Louisville, Kentucky

Category:Libraries established in 1902