A state Education Department program will funnel more than $3 million in funds to Suffolk libraries to help defray the cost of construction projects as part of a $34 million capital fund involving 197 libraries throughout the state.
“The state grant program is very competitive, and I’m glad to see that our local libraries were able to step up with worthy projects to help make sure our area gets its fair share of the funds,” said Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano. “Our libraries have made significant strides in expanding services to their communities, and these state monies will go a long way toward getting the jobs done at the lowest cost to local taxpayers.”
Receiving $249,865 will be the Patchogue-Medford Library for a parking lot at its new Horseblock Road annex, a project that includes handicapped spaces and conduits for future electric vehicle charging stations. The new branch, serving the northern part of the library district, has been a long-time coming and is being brought to fruition thanks to the efforts of the Medford Hamlet Foundation, Town of Brookhaven and community activists, DeStefano noted.
“The building is up, and it looks great. Library Director Danielle DeMicco-Paisley and everyone else involved in the new facility have been hard at work getting everything finished, and I can’t wait for the ribbon-cutting ceremony,” the assemblyman said. “The new branch shares its location with the town’s Medford Athletic Complex, and the new 67 parking spaces will be much appreciated by everyone who uses the facilities.”
According to DeMicco-Paisley, the $5 million project did not require borrowing and was made possible through the library’s capital construction account, donations and grants, including $453,000 already awarded by the state and two other $50,000 grants secured by DeStefano. Project costs are considerably lower thanks to the donation of the land by Brookhaven Town, DeMicco-Paisley pointed out. “The libraries have to advocate every year for construction grant funding,” she added, “so Assemblyman DeStefano always supports our applications up in Albany, which is fantastic.”
State funds will also flow to the Mastic Moriches Shirley Library, which has been going through some major improvements with new annexes now open in Mastic Beach and Moriches, and a major renovation of its Shirley main branch underway. The library will receive $422,500 for a state-of-the-art septic system that will not only serve library patrons, but also go a long way toward protecting the area’s water resources. The library’s construction budget was shattered due to increased costs from inflation, supply chain disruptions and structural deficiencies discovered when the walls of the main branch were opened, officials reported. Project costs are almost $7 million more than what was anticipated when the voters approved $22.7 million in borrowing for a capital plan that would also be augmented with $4 million in reserve funds.
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Coming through for libraries in his district was Assemblyman Fred Thiele, who nailed down $110,000 for the Floyd Memorial Library in Greenport to make ADA-compliant upgrades to its outdoor back and side-yard gardens, rehabilitate a historical front entrance and restore soffits. The Westhampton Free Library is slated for $7,350 to help pay for a connection to the local sewer system.
“I applaud the New York State Education Department and the New York State Library for awarding a portion of this funding to these fine libraries located in my assembly district,” Thiele said. “I am thrilled that so many constituents on the East End will benefit from the enhanced library services made possible through these projects.”
Also on the receiving end of state monies is the Comsewogue Library, which will get $187,000 to replace its heating system. According to Library Director Debra Engelhardt, the Port Jefferson Station facility’s aging system will be upgraded to a state-of-the-art unit that will save money through efficiency and have less of an environmental impact. “These state grants are critical for maintaining modern library facilities,” Engelhardt said. “We are appreciative of our state legislators and their efforts in assuring that our construction program is adequately funded.”
Over at the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library in East Setauket, $210,000 will come from the state for the construction of a new cafe and a room-separating partition wall in the main reading room. The Smithtown Library will receive a total of $50,000 for Building Management Systems at its branches Commack, Kings Park, Nesconset and Smithtown. The Suffolk Library System will also receive $132,000 from the state for the installation of 12 EV Charging Stations and an I/A septic system at its main office in Bellport. The monies demonstrate the state’s commitment to water quality and clean energy, Assemblyman DeStefano noted.
“Our public libraries are in urgent need of renovation, upgrading, and expansion,” the Department of Education said in announcing the grants. “There is a documented need for construction and renovation projects for New York's public libraries totaling more than $1.5 billion through 2025. More than half of the over 1,000 public library buildings in communities across New York are over 60 years old. Another one-third are more than three decades old. Many of New York's local public libraries are unable to accommodate users with disabilities and cannot provide Internet and computer and other electronic technologies to users because of outdated and inadequate electrical wiring. Many libraries do not have sufficient space to house the library's expanding collection, address the need for adequate meeting rooms, or provide for public access computers. In addition, many have outdated and inefficient heating/air conditioning and lighting systems that are costly to maintain and hazardous to the environment.”