East Hampton, Sag Harbor Libraries Secure More Funding

The East Hampton Library and Sag Harbor's John Jermain Memorial Library, which are both undergoing major construction projects, are set to receive $570,000 in state construction grants.

New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., I-Sag Harbor, said the two South Fork libraries are among four libraries in his district to take home the New York State Public Library Construction Grants. Together with the Mastic-Moriches-Shirley Community Library and Shelter Island Public Library, the libraries will receive $724,655 in total.

In the midst of its much anticipated 6,800-square-foot children's wing addition, the East Hampton Library will receive $342,262. The total project cost is $5.8 million, Dennis Fabiszak, the library director, said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the $13.5 million construction project at John Jermain is getting $227,041 to go toward the restoration of the 101-year-old building. The expansion project at the library begins this summer, and the move-in date is winter or spring 2014.

This is the third grant of its kind the library has received, Catherine Creedon, the library director said on Wednesday. "Cumulatively, it has made a difference for what I think will be a great resource for the Sag Harbor community," she said. In total, the library has received about $500,000 in grants.

"It's totally awesome. I'm very very grateful to Fred Thiele who has just been a great supporter of not only libraries but the John Jermain project," she said, adding that she is thankful to colleagues, like Kevin Verbesey, the director of the Suffolk Cooperative Library System, who reviews the grants.

"The staff and Board of the East Hampton Library are thrilled that New York State has awarded the Library this grant to support the construction costs of our New Children's Addition," according to a statement from Fabiszak and Donald Hunting, the board president.

"Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele and Senator Kenneth P. LaValle are both long time supporters of library funding in New York State. We are fortunate to have each of them as our local state representatives. This grant would not be possible without their support," they said.

According to Thiele, many of New York's public libraries are in urgent need of renovation and upgrading. He cited a survey that documented $2.2 billion in estimated costs for construction and renovation projects at libraries.

There are more than 1,000 public libraries across the state, and more than 48 percent of them are 60 years old or older, and 30 percent are more than three decades old, he said.

"With libraries now experiencing remarkable increases in use, and with budget cuts creating significant hardship, I am thrilled that so many of my constituents will benefit from increased library resources made possible through these state funds," Thiele said.

The Public Library Construction Grant Program offers $14 million in grants to libraries undergoing construction or renovation projects, including repairs to roofs, installation of energy efficient lighting and windows, or replacing old walkways and parking lots.

On Shelter Island, $91,590 will help improve efficiency, accessibility and safety at the library. Renovations thats will provide better accessibility for the disabled was given a high priority.

The Shirley library is slated to receive $63,762 to install an energy efficient boiler.