WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Louisville Free Public Library waterlogged

Louisville Free Public Library waterlogged

By Janelle MacDonald - bio | email
Posted By Mike Dever - email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - It'll be sometime Wednesday before the full extent of the damage to the main branch of Louisville's Free Public Library is known.

Water poured into the basement Tuesday, damaging everything there. Among the items lost, tens of thousands of books, the HVAC system, the branch's computers and all of the computers set to go to Newburg's soon to open high-tech library.

Library Director Craig Buthod says computers and "tens of thousands of books" have been lost to the water damage. He says three bookmobiles, staff vehicles and even his car were under water in the underground parking garage.

Buthod estimates in some spots the water was as high as 12 feet. Louisville Fire and Rescue was still on the scene Tuesday night, pumping water out of the building.

Mayor Jerry Abramson says the damage will likely exceed $1 million in the downtown library.

The director estimates at least three feet of standing water was inside the lower level Tuesday afternoon. Along with the lost books, several computers that were headed to a new library branch were ruined.

Mayor Abramson points out the Metro is self-insured, so at least a portion of the cleanup and restoration will be on the city's tab. If you'd like to help pay for the library's cleanup, click here.

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