ARP-Louisville Accelerator Post: Issue 2

September 15, 2023

This issue of the ARP Newsletter will focus on the priority area of Healthy Louisville/Healthy Neighborhoods, which has received $63.3 million in ARP funds. More than $14.6 million of that has been invested into the renovation and expansion of several libraries in Louisville, including the Main Library, Fern Creek Library, Parkland Library, and Portland Library. 

Project Spotlight: Library Renovations

Parkland Library: After being closed for more than three decades, the Parkland Library is being restored to bring library services back to the Parkland neighborhood . The project features a 3,000-sq-ft addition that will include a teen area and maker space. The Parkland Library is slated to reopen in 2024. Learn More: LFPL.org/Parkland

Fern Creek Library: The new 18,000-sq-ft Fern Creek Library will be located on Fern Creek Road next to Fern Creek High School. The library will feature comfortable, quiet spaces for reading & studying, meeting rooms, and areas for children & teens. Learn more: LFPL.org/FernCreek

Main Library: Phase 1 of the Main Library renovation project will include: exterior improvements to building & grounds, reopening of the closed third floor, and renovation of the historic “stacks” area for public use.

Portland Library: The $7.5 million Portland Library Project includes a renovation of the original 6,000-sq-ft historic building, as well as a modern 4,500-sq-ft addition. Once complete, the library will be fully accessible. Learn More: LFPL.org/PortlandRenovation

Project Spotlight: Imagination Library of Louisville

Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book gifting program in the world. The Imagination Library mails more than 2 million high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to enrolled children from birth to age five and currently, one in ten children under five in the US receives Imagination Library books. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading, inspiring children to dream. The impact of the program has been widely researched and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics.

Imagination Library of Louisville, founded in 2016 through a partnership with WAVE 3 News, the Junior League of Louisville, and the Jefferson County Public Education Foundation, the program began in just three zip codes and slowly expanded to cover about half the county. Now, thanks to an ARP grant of over more than $270,000, the program is now available in all of Jefferson County. Families with children under five years old can register at Imagination Library Louisville. 

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library gifts over 2 million books to children every month and, since the start of the program in Louisville, more than 135,000 books have been gifted to children in Jefferson County. City funding covers the cost of books mailed to children’s homes through 2024 and Imagination Library is activity seeking additional funding so that this can continue after the grant period is over.

Donors interested in supporting can sign up for a one-time or monthly donation at the website and for just $50, can cover the cost of the entire five years of the program for one child. Businesses and organizations can also sponsor a month of books for $10,000, which includes an acknowledgement featured on every book mailed to children’s homes that month. Interested businesses can send an email to info@imaginationlibrarylouisville.org or go to the contact page of the website.

Parents and caregivers can register children for the program through the Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL) website, Imagination Library of Louisville website, or in person at their local library branch. Books are selected based on developmental stages to provide engaging, educational reading content. 

First Lady Rachel Greenberg reads a book to children during a press conference announcing the expansion of the Imagination Library across Jefferson County.