Libraries across the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier will see upgrades after a new round of state funding awards.
Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan announced six library construction grant recipients in Assembly District 131 on Dec. 18.
The grants come from a statewide program approved by the New York State Education Department and the New York State Library. In total, 212 projects received support through a $44 million capital fund included in the state budget.
Several Seneca and Ontario County libraries made the list.
The Seneca Falls Library received $38,142 to create a sound system in its community room and install a door badge system to improve building safety. The Waterloo Library & Historical Society was awarded $17,484 to modernize its security alarm system, add a carbon monoxide detector, and expand theatre lighting.
In Ontario County, the Clifton Springs Library received $24,611 to install a new HVAC system. The Geneva Public Library was awarded $51,485 to upgrade data cabling and improve security with cameras, fire and intrusion systems, and a new perimeter fence.
The OWWL Library System received $60,768 to upgrade building safety, security, and energy efficiency. The Mary Wilcox Memorial Library in Broome County was awarded $45,000 to create a non-fiction reading room and new computer workspaces.
“It is very exciting to see these grant monies allocated to six very deserving public libraries and public library systems in our community,” Gallahan said. “Our libraries are historic spaces that help bring communities together.”
Gallahan represents the 131st Assembly District, which includes parts of Ontario, Seneca, Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Broome, and Chenango counties.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].