Senator Gallivan Announces Funding for West Seneca Public Library

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) announced he has secured $400,000 in state funding to support a major expansion of the West Seneca Public Library.  Phase I of the project includes construction of a 10,236 square foot addition to the Union Road library, while Phase II calls for interior modifications.  The total cost of the project is estimated at $2.8 million with groundbreaking expected in early 2016.   

“The current library was built over 50 years ago and can no longer meet the community’s growing demand for services, especially public access to computers,” Gallivan said.  “By investing in this expansion project, we can ensure the library has the capacity to serve residents for many years to come.” 

The expansion will more than double the size of the existing library and calls for the creation of a community living room-style facility that will provide public meeting space that is currently lacking.  The addition will also increase the size of the children’s area, expand the collection space and allow the library to accommodate more patrons.  Phase II of the project includes new doors and flooring, updated HVAC and other mechanicals, as well as new furniture and furnishings.    

“I envision that the West Seneca Public Library will become a meeting place for the community, where leisure reading, research and a variety of interactive, age-appropriate programming will come together under one building,” said West Seneca Supervisor Sheila Meegan.  “The physical location of the current library, its prominence on our Town Hall/Town Park complex, and its accessibility using pedestrian, bicycle and public transportation, makes this site valuable and worthy of reinvestment on a large scale.””     

The $400,000 appropriation is part of the State and Municipal Projects Program administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, DASNY.  It is in addition to $439,018 in state aid awarded earlier this year for the West Seneca Public Library as part of a capital fund for public library construction statewide.

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