Tales from the Kentucky Room
Listen to stories of Lexington’s history told through the Kentucky Room archives.
Listen to stories of Lexington’s history told through the Kentucky Room archives.
Attend a public event at the Farish or reserve the fully equipped theater for a private event of your own.
We believe in free and equal access to information. That's why everyone can access education and entertainment resources and technology without worrying about overdue fines.
Choose from a variety of book clubs for different ages and interests or join us for a readers and writers event.
Schedule a one-on-one consultation to learn library skills, get help with research and job searches, have a test proctored by one of our librarians, and more.
The Lexington Public Library receives most of its operating funds from an Ad Valorem property tax. By State law, the Library receives five cents for every $100 of assessed property value in Lexington and Fayette County. This is the minimum amount allowed by the state of Kentucky for support of public libraries. Many counties choose to support their libraries at a higher level.
Lexington Public Library receives a small amount of state and federal funding. The remainder of our operating monies comes from donations to our Friends of the Library and our Library Foundation, from grants, and from fees. These additional sources of income provide the margin of excellence which allows us to offer services and programs which meet the ever-changing needs of our community.
The Library operates on a fiscal year which runs from July 1–June 30. The Library Board of Trustees reviews and approves the budget prior to the start of each fiscal year.
Each year, an independent audit is conducted on the Library’s financial statements, internal controls, and compliance with government accounting standards.