Larkin Announces Additional Grants For Local Libraries

Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson) is pleased to announce that the Town of Esopus Library, the Town of Crawford Free Library and the Ramapo Catskill Library have been awarded public library construction grants.

The grants are from a one-time allocation of $14 million in capital funds for public library construction provided by the New York State Legislature in the 2006-2007 State Budget.

The Town of Esopus Library System has been awarded $143,445 for the construction of new 9,400 square foot library.

The Town of Crawford Free Library has been awarded $26,554 for the renovation of a newly acquired building to serve as a fully accessible library annex for library users with disabilities. Partial funding from the grant will also be used for the purchase of furniture, computer equipment and the installation of a security system in both the existing library and the new annex.

The Ramapo Catskill Library has been awarded $80,204 for site excavation and construction of a 1,845 square foot garage.

"Many of our public libraries are in urgent need of renovation and upgrading," said Senator Larkin. "In fact, almost half of the state’s 1,000 public libraries are over 60 years old. These library construction grants will help our local libraries renovate their facilities and meet the needs of the community."