LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For the first time in almost 40 years, Louisville’s Parkland Library opened its doors and welcomed book enthusiasts.
Carole Stokes-Brewer had wonderful memories of being at the Parkland Library as a child with her sister and mother.
“I remember this! As a kid growing up, my mother loved the library, loved to read. She would bring my sister and I here on field trips to get books and come back and read, and we were never late bringing our books back to the library,” Stokes-Brewer said.
Her mother, Jessie Carter Stokes, dedicated 24 years of service to the Louisville Free Public Library and Parkland branch, before it closed in Dec. 1986 because of budget cuts.
“She was so excited that this was going to be acknowledged,” Stokes-Brewer explained.
Thursday, many were on hand for the ribbon cutting on the $6.6 million renovation and expansion of the historic building, which originally opened in 1908.
District 1 councilwoman Tammy Hawkins explained, “Today shows me that what the community wants to see matters.”
Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, said, “This library is going to serve the needs of this neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods for years to come now after years of being closed. So that’s why it’s wonderful that we were able to renovate the original library building and add 3,000 square feet so we could have room for more books that you see on the shelves.”
There are over 19,000 brand new books from every genre and category.
Louisville basketball legend, Darrell Griffith, came to the library as a kid. He was thrilled for the grand reopening. He said, “It’s great for the kids and great for the community. These books are not up here as artwork. They’re hands-on. They’re to be used.”
Located on 28th and Virginia, the library has a laptop checkout, computers, images showing the rich history of the area and meeting spaces. There is even space for kids. Crystal Boyd and her family live in Parkland.
“I love it! Especially for my kids, I love it,” Boyd said. “It’s beautiful! I had already did the virtual tour before I got here and then I got here. It’s just everything I thought it would be.”
Stokes said the library is great, and knew how her mom would have felt if she was around to see it.
“She would just be amazed!” Stokes-Brewer said.
Everyone is invited out to the Parkland Library for a Family Fun Day and open on Saturday March 1, starting at 10 a.m.