You’ve found the book you want to read, maybe the new novel everyone’s talking about, and then you see it: a wait time of 25 weeks.

Long wait times became a growing challenge for library users in Louisville, especially as demand for books and digital materials continues to rise. Understanding why this happens and what’s being done about it helps explain why investing in library collections matters more than ever.

At its core, the Louisville Free Public Library exists to provide the broadest possible access to knowledge, ideas, and information. But fulfilling that mission requires more than beautiful buildings; it requires well-stocked shelves.

Why do wait times get long?

In 2025, over 3.5 million items were checked out of LFPL, including print books, eBooks, and audiobooks. The library is constantly reviewing its collection and balancing the purchase of new items that might be popular with the need to replace damaged or lost materials.

But budgets matter.

With limited budgets, libraries are not always able to meet patrons’ demands in a timely manner and often have to balance a wide variety of items in their collections while ensuring popular titles have low wait times.

According to 2024 Kentucky Department of Libraries data, LFPL’s budget to buy new print and electronic materials was less than that of Lexington, despite serving more than twice as many people. The library’s 2024 fiscal year budget included $3.95 per resident for new materials, lagging behind the state average of $5.33 per resident. In 2024, wait times for popular books in Louisville sometimes exceeded 25 weeks.

Digital books: more popular, and more complicated

Digital reading has transformed how people use the library. While printed books remain essential, eBooks and digital audiobooks have surged in popularity over the past five years.

According to a 2025 Urban Libraries Council report, ebook usage nationwide has doubled since 2019, with demand increasing by up to 58% over the past 6 years. In Louisville, digital circulation has increased for five consecutive years, reaching more than 1.68 million checkouts.

Despite appearances, digital books aren’t unlimited. In fact, publishers’ licensing rules can make digital wait times even longer. A 2023 American Library Association report highlights several common models:

• One copy/one user: Even though the book is digital, a license will only cover one copy per user, so libraries either have to purchase more licenses or have patrons wait.
• Metered access: A license lasts only for a specific time period (for example, one or two years) before it expires, and the library has to “renew” its copy. This means libraries do not have unlimited access to the book and must keep paying for additional access.
• Pay-per-circ: Libraries pay for each use of the item, or pay a set number of uses before they have to pay again. This means that very popular items may have to be renewed often.

Why wait times matter, for readers and for equity

Long wait times don’t just cause inconvenience; they can change how people engage with the library.

A recent American Library Association study found that while Gen Z and Millennials are visiting libraries in high numbers, 75% believe a library wait of one week or less is already “long.” Those who can afford to might turn to buying books instead of waiting, particularly if they have a deadline. Those who can’t might experience frustration. In the long term, libraries can lose engagement as patrons turn to paid services, and high wait times challenge libraries’ ability to serve immediate community needs for timely information, impacting their perception as modern resources.

How Long Waits Affect Readers

• Decreased Satisfaction & Frustration: Long waits, especially over a week, are seen as “long” by younger users, leading to frustration.
• Equity Concerns: Black and Latinx patrons are more likely to be deterred by long digital waits, making it a racial equity issue for access.
• Shift to Paid Services: Patrons may abandon the library for paid subscriptions if wait times for digital services are too long, impacting the library’s value proposition.
• Altered Perceptions: Delays in basic services (such as staff greetings) negatively affect the library’s perceived return on investment (ROI).

Why Reducing Wait Times Is So Hard for Libraries

• Collection Management Challenges: High demand for popular titles (physical and digital) quickly depletes copies, requiring libraries to balance budgets with buying more.
• Budget Strain: Digital licenses (e.g., for ebooks) can be costly and often feature restrictive lending models (pay-per-use, limited copies/time), exacerbating wait times.
• Operational Hurdles: Libraries face complex technical services and publisher restrictions that slow acquisition of new materials.

The good news: we’re working on it!

LFPL, the Library Foundation, the Mayor, and Metro Council all joined forces last year to create the Million Dollar Match for the fiscal year 2026 budget. The Mayor and Council pledged a $ 1 million increase in books and materials, to be matched by $1 million raised from the Library Foundation, the Library Advisory Council, and the Friends of the Library.

• Since July, 130,789 new books, eBooks, and digital audiobooks have been added to the LFPL collection.

And it’s working! Wait times have already been significantly reduced

• Maximum wait times for print books have dropped from 15 weeks to 12 weeks
• The average wait for print titles is now just 16 days
• eBook and audiobook wait times have fallen from 30 weeks to 18 weeks, with average waits around 30 days

This investment is already helping more readers find the right book at the right time.

How you can help shorten wait times

Shorter library wait times don’t happen by accident. They happen when communities invest together and advocate for access to knowledge.

If you believe wait times should be shorter, here’s how you can help:

Donate to the Library Foundation
Support the Million Dollar Match. Once the goal is reached, all funds will be added to the New Book Endowment to support ongoing book and material purchases.

Advocate to your elected officials
Most of the library’s budget comes from local general funds set by the Mayor and Metro Council. This year, we’re advocating for a permanent increase to the fiscal year 2025 budget levels.

Together, we can make sure no one has to wait months for their next great read.