Help for the Louisville Free Public Library

Yesterday, August 4, 2009, Louisville, Kentucky was hit with a powerful thunderstorm that left inches of rain behind in a very short period of time. Some estimates were up to 7 inches within an hour. The rain stopped for a while, then it came again.

Louisville had no shortfall of rain prior to this and there simply was no place for all of this water to go, so it chose to run down streets, flood parking garages, homes, businesses and university classrooms, and dump several feet of muddy water into the local downtown library.

Today, the Louisville Free Public Library, is pumping and mucking out water and sludge. In it's wake, is an estimate of upwards of a million dollars in damage. This damage not only includes books, but computers and other technology equipment destined for the Newberg Center. It includes the library technology server, the air conditioning and heating systems, the electrical system, and more.

My heart breaks at the loss of the books and other library equipment. Just seeing the books floating in the murky water touched something in me. I want to do something, so today I contacted The Library Foundation for what I could do to help.

According to Mary Hunt, of The Library Foundation, the most urgent needs are for cash donations. Perhaps later, there will be a need for book donations and other kinds of support. So for now, this is where I start.

If you love books, live in the Louisville community, and would like to support the rebuilding of the Library by donating to the Flood fund, please send your donations to:

The Library Foundation
301 York Street
Louisville, KY 40203
Please note on your donation: Flood Recovery Fund

This is a start. I have other ideas for support and will be keeping in touch with The Library Foundation. I welcome your ideas, as well. Stay tuned.

Additional articles:

Louisville surprised by damaging flood

Louisville Libraries Hit by Flooding

Louisville Free Public Library on Facebook