The series of weather disasters that struck the region last year caused great damages across Louisville, and the state has not yet received the full federal disaster relief sum that it is owed, but the downtown branch of the Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL) is rejoicing in its restoration completion.  Although berated by the wind and ice storms, it was last year's flood that caused the most damage to the library, destroying parts of its interior and books. The branch was closed for about three weeks following the flood, and has since invested almost $12 million in its recovery.

This morning Mayor Jerry Abramson, accompanied by a slew of television news cameras, came to the new Children's Library in the downtown branch of the LFPL to read to a group of kids to commemorate the success of the project.  While the refurbished library can be seen today, there will be an official Grand Re-Opening Celebration on Saturday, May 15th at 1pm.

The library invites everyone to come and see the new Children's Library, Teen Library, and public auditorium, as well as the restoration of its Carnegie Lobby.  When I first came to Louisville nine months ago, the downtown branch of the LFPL clearly displayed the weight of the damage that it had endured, cluttered with drainage equipment and sectioned-off areas.  A quick glance this morning showed a completely different interior; one that has finally recovered from last year's flood.

Personally, I had never seen the library before the damage because I was not yet a Louisvillian, but I am excited to attend the Grand Re-Opening Celebration this Saturday to go on the scheduled tours in order to learn more about the building's history and its renovation.  You can follow Twitter updates from the event by following twitter.com/louisvillecom.

The celebration will be held at the Main Library, 301 York Street.