A 21.5% increase in local funding will enable the Louisville (Ky.) Free Public Library to offer Sunday hours at more branch libraries and to keep all branches open every school night.
LFPL is a joint agency of Louisville and Jefferson County, and their failure to agree on funding levels in recent years has limited the library’s budget growth. However, city and county agreed June 26 to increase their share of LFPL funding to $15.8 million from $13 million for the fiscal year that began July 1. Foundation funding and state and federal allocations bring the total LFPL budget to $18.6 million.
Seven of LFPL’s 17 branch libraries will now have Sunday hours, rather than three, and funds will also be available to continue an automation program. The increase also includes $530,000 for new books and materials, plus $200,000 for repairs at the main branch and other capital projects.
The budget increase will also allow the library to cover increased costs due to inflation and a new labor contract.
Posted July 9, 2001.