After a local petition drive, the original Fairdale branch of the Louisville Free Public Library opened in July 1974. The branch served the community for six years out of a second floor room at Fairdale High School. However, due to budget reductions, the Fairdale Branch closed its doors in August of 1980 along with three other locations. Determined to keep a library in the community, local volunteers maintained a small lending library that mainly consisted of donated materials. The volunteer library was housed in the Fairdale Memorial Playtorium.
After a long wait, the community of Fairdale received a new library in 1998 that was part of the newly renovated Fairdale Memorial Playtorium building. The library served the Fairdale Community in this building space until a new, 7600 square foot, energy efficient, free standing branch opened on March 24, 2012.
