LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Patrons of the Louisville Free Public Library's Main branch will soon have access to the best and the latest educational resources available, thanks in part to a $150,000 grant to the Library Foundation from E.ON U.S., parent of Louisville Gas and Electric Company.
Funds will be used over the next two years to integrate wired learning services into the restoration and rebuilding of the historic original Main Library, which sustained heavy damage during the flood of last August.
Specifically, the addition of new computers and software will help facilitate learning opportunities throughout the facility for virtually every patron. The children's library, teen library, auditorium, multi-purpose meeting room, adult literacy classroom, adult education work center, and the Job Shop expansion will benefit from the grant, which also includes all network switching and routing to support these functions.
"We are deeply appreciative of this tremendous demonstration of support," said Library Director Craig Buthod. "The visionary approach of E.ON U.S. is helping us look toward the future and build the kind of infrastructure we need to stay ahead of our customers' needs. This grant helps advance our commitment to literacy and will provide even more tools for a larger number of children and teens to succeed academically."
Laura Douglas, Vice President Corporate Responsibility and Community Affairs for E.ON U.S. added: "We're proud to partner with the Louisville Free Public Library and hope the addition of new technology will entice and inspire even more people to patronize the Main branch. This grant will give the public greater access to more knowledge, ideas and information, which benefits the whole community."
Louisville's Main Library sustained nearly $8 million in damage as a result of flash flooding caused by torrential rains on August 4, 2009. The 100-year-old facility experienced more than six feet of water in its operations center and lost nearly 60,000 books and nearly 200 computers. While the library was able to reopen many areas to the public as early as 23 days after the flooding, recovery work has continued and additional improvements have been included in what is now known as the Main Branch Landmark Initiative.
The Main Library was built in 1908 and the north section added in 1969. The library on York Street sees an average of 2,200 visitors per day. It is open Monday through Thursday from 9 am until 9 pm and Friday and Saturday from 9 am until 5 pm. For more information, go to www.flpl.org or call 502-574-1611.
The Louisville Free Public Library connects the residents of Louisville and Jefferson County to knowledge and information at 18 locations and on the Web at www.flpl.org. For more information, go to www.flpl.org or call 502-574-1611.
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E.ON U.S., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a subsidiary of E.ON A.G., the world's largest investor-owned energy services provider. E.ON U.S. is a diversified energy services company that owns and operates Louisville Gas and Electric Company, a regulated utility that serves 314,000 natural gas and 389,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties, and Kentucky Utilities Company, a regulated electric utility in Lexington, Ky., that serves 538,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia.
