Senator John DeFrancisco announced Monday that six libraries in the county will receive grants from the state for Public Library Construction. The state doles out about $14 million each year to public libraries for a bevy of different projects.There were 192 construction grants awarded this year throughout the state.
The Fayetteville Free Library was the big winner, receiving $250,695 to build a business center, as well as a Fab Lab, a collection of commercially available machines and parts linked by software and processes developed for making items. According to Susan Considine, Fayetteville Free Library executive director, this is the sixth time since 2000 the library has received funds from the program.
“It’s very competitive,” Considine said. She added that the library writes the grants each year.
The Onondaga County Public Library will receive $125,363 for Mundy’s physical space to be rebuilt into an InfoTech Center. According to a press release from DeFrancisco’s office, the center is “a 21st century library with an emphasis on technology, mobility and flexible spaces.”
The Northern Onondaga Public Library is receiving $43,489 for a facility with a concrete floor to be used by all three system libraries in an attempt to increase the effectiveness of each. It’s described as an “efficient, permanent, multi-purpose facility.”
The Onondaga Free Library was awarded $5,815 for a new security system in an attempt to address a loss-prevention issue.
The Maxwell Memorial Library is getting $9,050 to replace portions of its roof, while the Tully Free Library was given $7,991 to install an air conditioning system, which the press release says will increase building capacity and energy efficiency. The Baldwinsville Public Library is receiving $3,959 to implement four energy conservation improvements.
Neil Benjamin Jr. can be reached at [email protected].
