The Marlboro Library has received a New York State Aid for Library Construction grant in the amount of $496,954 for an expansion and renovation of its community room and north side entrance.

“Library staff and trustees are excited by this good news! Grants such as this, along with donations, will allow the library to better serve the needs of the community”, says Denise Garofalo, Board President.

The project will increase the size of the current community room, and will feature upgraded technology, storage and furniture solutions, natural light, energy saving systems, improved ADA accessibility, and the option to accommodate multiple groups at once. Butler Rowland Mays Architects will lead the project.

New York State Aid for Library Construction helps local libraries and library systems to build new libraries, create additions, update electrical wiring and broadband access to accommodate computer technology, meet standards of energy efficiency, renovate facilities to provide full accessibility to library users with disabilities, and provide meeting rooms to accommodate community needs.

“As a longtime supporter of our local libraries, I fully understand how they serve as resource hubs for our communities, which was increasingly apparent during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, as we resurface, we must provide our libraries with the funding needed to not only survive, but thrive. It is with great excitement that I join the Marlboro Free Library in announcing nearly half a million dollars for upgrades to an ADA accessible entry/vestibule area and expansion of an existing Program Room for children, adult and communal use. These funds are from $34 million in capital funds for public library construction and broadband infrastructure projects provided in the FY2021-2022 State Budget”, says Senator James Skoufis.

The Library’s grant amount is the largest awarded in the Hudson Valley for the 2021-2022 grant cycle.

For more information, visit the library website at marlborolibrary.org.