Visitors to the Center Moriches Library will have more places to park thanks to the purchase of nearby property with help from the Friends of the Library.
The new lot will have about 55 spaces north of the existing field, which will be wider and allow for more handicapped parking at the popular facility. The project is budgeted for $650,000 and will include upgrades to the existing lot, according to Library Director Marcie Litjens. Architect John Tanzi of Stony Brook is on board to provide the design work.
The lot was laid out with various considerations in mind, including traffic flow, fencing, landscaping, and special fixtures to reduce light pollution, the director said. It will be directly behind the post office with access from Railroad Avenue.
 |
| The Center Moriches Library on Main Street. Robert Chartuk |
The Friends are a dedicated group made up of local residents who also raise money for equipment, furniture, programs, and other library needs.
The library has been recommended for a state Construction Aid Grant of $225,000 to help defray the costs. Groundbreaking is expected this spring for a summer completion.
The library, which also features a bustling Hampton Coffee Company cafe, is a busy place, with the number of visitors increasing every year. In 2023, nearly 200,000 patrons took advantage of the library’s services, up from 180,000 the year before. The library also went through a parking lot expansion in 2014.
“Having all of these people using the library, it’s a good problem to have,” said Litjens, noting that they have many programs and services beyond just books.
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 operation of the library and to help fund projects such as the new parking lot.