Updated: Louisville Libraries Hit By Flooding; Main Library Closed Indefinitely

At least $5 million in damage from "incredible downpour"; rebuilding job begins

Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 08/05/2009

• 50,000 items lost
• One of two closed branches has reopened
• Main Library reopening unclear; major building damage 

[Updated August 6, 5:40 pm] An "incredible downpour" on Tuesday in Louisville, KY, brought seven inches of rain in 75 minutes, devastating the Main Library of the Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL), causing what library director Craig Buthod told LJ is an estimated $5 million in damage.

"We’ve got a contractor in place for project management and removal of debris, cleaning, and other emergency steps," he said. "Then we’ll go to next stage: rebuilding." He said that 50,000 books and other items worth at least $1 million were lost. The other $4 million loss, he said, involves four elevators, boilers, chillers, air handlers, and electrical systems.

LFPL also lost its three bookmobiles, plus two service vehicles. Three employees (including Buthod) saw their cars ruined by the flood.

The flood rendered the library web site unavailable. The last time the library flooded was in 1937, when the Ohio River, a mile-and-a-half away, overflowed. 

Greg Schwartz, LFPL’s Library Systems Manager, posted photos on Twitter.

[Corrected] One of two closed branches has reopened, with the other expected to reopen soon. All open locations are able to circulate materials, but Internet access is down. The Anime Convention scheduled for this weekend at the Main Library has been cancelled.

Donations sought
People wishing to help can send checks to: The Library Foundation, 301 York St., Louisville, KY 40203, Attn: Flood.

Also, the Library Society of the World, which previously bought books for the library, is helping solicit donations.