$2 MILLION Books + Materials
The average wait time for materials at the Louisville Free Public Library is increasing. Many popular titles have a hold time of 25+ weeks. With rising prices and increased demand, the size of our collections is falling behind those of peer cities. At the same time, the materials budget has remained stagnant. An increase of $2 million in the materials budget will help address this disparity.

Increasing staff size to maintain and increase service
The library system has been steadily growing to keep pace with Louisville’s growing population. The reopening of the Portland Library, upcoming opening of the new Fern Creek Library and expansion of the Main Library represent major milestones in the city’s investment in public infrastructure. To sustain high-quality service across the system, staffing resources must grow alongside facilities, ensuring all residents continue to benefit from equitable access to library services.

According to 2024 Kentucky Department of Libraries data, we spend $22.84 on library staffing per resident, which is $6 less per resident than the state average, and almost three times less than the top counties, including Bullitt ($55.78). Library workers are responsible for some of the community’s beloved programming including storytimes for new readers, the How-To Festival, and Books and Brews. More library workers mean more high-quality programming for our communities, while still maintaining services like responding to information requests and making sure patrons can check out books and materials.