Center Moriches library patrons will have 55 more places to park as construction of a new lot nears completion at the popular facility. The $650,000 project, just north of the existing field, was made possible through fundraising efforts by the Friends of the Library.
The lot was laid out with various considerations in mind, including traffic flow, fencing, landscaping, and unique fixtures to reduce light pollution, Library Director Marcie Litjens explained. It was designed by Architect John Tanzi of Stony Brook. The project includes upgrades to the existing lot and will increase handicapped parking. Located behind the post office, the lot can be accessed from Railroad Avenue.
The Friends of the Library conducted book sales and other activities to raise funds for the $32,500 land purchase from the adjacent Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist. Existing funds in the library budget will cover construction costs without an increase in taxes or borrowing, Litjens noted. The Friends are a dedicated group of residents who also raise funds for equipment, furniture, programs, and other library needs.
The library, which also features a bustling Hampton Coffee Company cafe, is busy, with the number of visitors increasing every year. In 2023, nearly 200,000 patrons took advantage of the library’s service, up from 180,000 the year before. The library also expanded its parking lot in 2014.
The facility is a School District library that services the Center Moriches Union Free School District, which has a population of over 7,500, according to the library’s website. The library also serves residents of three other school districts, East Moriches, Eastport South Manor, and Remsenburg-Speonk, which contract annually for library service through the Suffolk Cooperative Library System. Contract fees are received annually from these districts for the library's operation and to help fund projects such as the new parking lot. A state Construction Aid Grant of $225,000 is also being pursued to help defray costs.