The Town Greece announced plans to update and enhance the main portion of the Greece Public Library at 2 Vince Tofany Blvd.
Our Library was built in 2000 and we are approaching the 24th year of the opening of this building to the public. While smaller renovations have taken place over the years, for the most part the main portion of the library has been relatively untouched outside of the expansion of the Children’s Story Garden which was completed in 2021. The Children’s Library has brought several thousand new patrons to the building each year since we opened it, it has become a destination for many of our families and their little ones and many have described it as a free version of the “Strong Museum.”
“Ensuring the viability of our public buildings is critical in preparing for the next generation of Greece residents so they can enjoy the amenities we all have enjoyed for years. I liken it to your home, imagine if you left it untouched for 25 years, the wear and tear and updates that would be needed would be vast,” Supervisor Reilich said. “This renovation will go a long way to improve the function of the library, provide energy cost savings, and most importantly improve the safety of our staff and residents for years to come” Reilich concluded.
Libraries have changed significantly over the years, while there is still great demand for books, the digital age has taken over in all aspects. Always known as a gathering spot, the library continues to provide resources for our residents and a place to gather and gain and expand our knowledge on a variety of topics. And while libraries themselves have changed, so too is the world we live in. Our current library features very high shelving throughout the building, this makes it very difficult for staff to have a clear visual of the space and we have had scattered incidents where a better visual vantage point for our staff would have been very helpful. Our current plan is to feature lower shelving, the same that was placed in the Story Garden.
Additionally, lighting continues to be problematic. The lighting will be completely replaced in the space as well, new decorative lighting features are planned as well as the total conversion to LED lighting to further save on our utility costs which in turn will provide up to 75% brighter lights than those that are currently in place.
Photos feature one of the current areas of the library, you can see that the lighting is very archaic, and the shelving is very high. The new plans will allow for the movement and rearrangement of the shelving so we can keep up with future trends for library offerings. These bookshelves in the photo cannot be moved or rearranged, in particular because of the lighting fixtures that are attached to them. The second photo is a depiction of what that new area will look like.
Once again, there will be NO BORROWING for this project. The initial funding for the project will come from the Library Fund and additional funding to complete the project will come from the Town’s General Fund. In addition to this funding formula, we have applied for another construction grant through the Monroe County Library System, and we feel confident that we will once again be successful in receiving these state grant funds. Any monies received from this grant will be reimbursed to the General Fund. As was discussed at our budget hearing and presentation last week, our town funds are in great shape, and we can fund this project using cash. This newest plan for the library will be in concert with our mission to offer new amenities and opportunities to our residents while keeping our town tax rate low. As a result of the budget hearing, the town board has proposed and voted to support another decreased town tax rate again in 2024.
Preliminary work began just after Thanksgiving. The staff at the library ask for your patience as we embark on this latest endeavor. The collection will be moved in accordance with the construction schedule; however, our staff are happy to accommodate any requests for assistance with materials throughout the process. The library will not have any extended closures during the renovation stage. Stay tuned for updates. We hope you will be able to join us to celebrate this latest renovation when it is complete and opened to the public.
Provided Information and Photos
