$227k Construction Grant Slated for John Jermain

Sag Harbor's John Jermain Memorial Library is among the state public libraries set to receive a state construction grant. 

New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., I-Sag Harbor, said four libraries in his district are taking home the New York State Public Library Construction Grants this year.  All told, John Jermain, the East Hampton Libary, the Mastic-Moriches-Shirley Community Library and Shelter Island Public Library, will receive $724,655 in total.

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 East Hampton Library is in the midst of its much anticipated $5.8 million, 6,800-square-foot children's wing addition, and will receive $342,262. 

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.