Neighbors watch as $7 million renovation transforms Louisville's Portland library

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A multimillion dollar renovation is transforming Louisville's Portland Library, but there is a lot of work to be done before it can reopen.

Last year, Lee Burchfield, director of the Louisville Free Public Library, said the Portland Library first opened more than 100 years ago on Northwestern Parkway. It's the smallest branch of Louisville's Free Public Library locations and until now, it hasn't had any significant expansions or renovations.

The library closed in late September 2023 to make way for the renovations, which will add 4,500 square feet to the space.

"I've worked for the Louisville Free Public Library for about 26 years," Burchfield said back in September. "For as long as I've worked here, I've been coming to this library and thinking somebody needs to be doing something about this library. And it didn't happen over a decade or more when we were investing in libraries all across the county."

With the new renovation, there will be areas specifically designed for kids and teens to read, as well as a meeting space. There will also be a new, expanded book collection, an elevator for accessibility, new computers and more.

The estimated cost is more than $7 million.

William Bradley said he's lived right next door to the library for more than 40 years. He said he and his wife use the library regularly. He's now looking forward to the new books and technology.

"They'll have computer classes, so I'll take them too. So, it'll be a big help for the whole area," Bradley said.

Despite the current construction, Bradley said he doesn't mind the noise. He's just excited to see what the future holds for the library.

In Sept. 2023, the Louisville Free Public Library said the renovations were expected to take 12 to 15 months. That would've put the library on track to reopen in late 2024. But LFPL's Paul Burns told WDRB on Monday that the timeline for reopening is now looking more like early June 2025. He said the subcontractor bidding process took a little longer than expected with several capital projects going on in Louisville.

According to Louisville Free Public Library, if things go as planned and the library reopens next June, that will be just in time for Summer Reading.

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