Louisville's Main Library to close for up to a year during major renovation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville's main library will temporarily close, as the building undergoes a multimillion-dollar renovation.

At a news conference on Monday, Mayor Craig Greenberg said the initial plan was for the library to remain open, but once construction began crews realized that would not be possible.

Work on the more than $8 million project at the Louisville Free Public Library's main branch on York Street began in February. The next phase of construction involves public areas on the first floor, and it won't be safe for patrons and library employees to be in the area.

The building will close to the public beginning Monday, Dec. 1. It could be closed for a year. The newly renovated Portland Library will open to the public that same week.

MAIN LIBRARY RENOVATION RENDERINGS - 11-3-25 5.jpg — Renderings show what the stack area of the main branch of the Louisville Free Public Library will look like once renovations are complete. Image courtesy LFPL.

The Main Library is the largest public library in the state. It was originally built in 1906 with support from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. A contemporary addition in 1969 more than doubled the space. The current renovation project will expand services and provide much needed improvements, including:

The creation of more than 16,000 square feet of usable public space by opening the existing historic “closed stacks” area of the 1906 Carnegie Library building
A fully accessible entrance to the historic York Street building
Renovation and reopening of the Main Library’s third floor (closed to the public in 2018 due to budget cuts)
Improved and expanded meeting and study spaces
New furniture and finishes

Money from the federal American Rescue Plan is being used for the library renovation along with private donations to the Library Foundation. To learn more about the project and to see renderings of the plan, visit LFPL.org/MainLibraryProject.

Expanding social and digital services

Greenberg announced plans to expand social services and digital access along Broadway to help people who use the main library to get off the streets or hunt for jobs.

Computer access

Goodwill Industries of Louisville will expand computer access at both its East and West Broadway campuses, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the East Broadway location on Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. thanks to funding from the Louisville Hotel Partnership.
Re:Center Ministries (757 S. Brook Street) will add Saturday and Sunday hours for women and children. Their Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Louisville Free Public Library will open a remote computer center at 721 South Brook Street to offer free computer and internet access, printing, and faxing services to adults, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and four hours on Saturday (exact hours to be determined based on need). In addition, a UK School of Social Work in Libraries Fellow will be on staff at this location.

Day shelter

Vincent de Paul will expand services by adding a new day shelter program.

Expanded transportation

Expanded transportation offerings in partnership with TARC, HEART, Block by Block, and Goodwill will be provided for individuals in need of transportation for services at other locations.

Expanded library hours

Other library branches will work to help minimize the impact. All Louisville Free Public Library locations now operate 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday. This adds 12 service hours each week at Western Library, only six blocks away from the Main Library, and at the Fairdale Library. This change adds 32 net service hours across the Library system each week.

Homeless initiative fund grants

More than $1 million in Homeless Initiative Grants are being awarded to the following organizations to help with shelter services and to care for people during extreme weather conditions.