After two decades of dreaming, Amenia Library expansion takes shape

AMENIA — More than 20 years after the idea of expanding the Amenia Free Library on Route 343 was first dreamed of, that expansion is now in being built. The end result will provide a comfortable space for its collection, programming, employees and patrons.

The history

Taking a closer look at the project’s time line, Amenia Free Library Board of Trustees President Alan Gamble said the idea was first conceived around 1994.

“At that time, it was just this cloud, this vision of something we didn’t know what,” he said.

Though they lacked the funding at the time, that vision began to take shape, motivating the library to start saving. By the early 2000s, Gamble said the board started talking with local architect Darlene Riemer. She started on modest proposals and as fundraising grew, he said, so did the board’s goals.

With encouragement from Mid-Hudson Library System Executive Director Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, the board organized focus groups to determine the community’s needs. It began meeting with young families, senior citizens and leaders in local government and businesses. 

Gamble said “the number one thing on everybody’s list was more space.” 

The community also showed an interest in more programs — which the library has since incorporated into its offerings — but again, it needed more space for more programs.

It eventually bought land next to the library to help make way for the expansion and applied for the necessary approvals from local and state agencies for the expansion.

The project had community support and also received the town Planning Board’s approval in the fall of 2018. This past summer, the library held a ground breaking ceremony to begin construction on Aug. 29.

The structure

With the existing structure measuring at 884 square feet, the new 68-foot long by 28-foot wide addition will add 2,386 square feet to the library, totaling 3,270 square feet overall. 

On top of providing appropriate storage for the library’s rare books and creating more flexibility for its computers and other technology, the expansion plans initially included a fenced patio for outdoor activities at the rear of the property; installing new septic and heating systems; installing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant rest rooms; a new vestibule; paving the parking lot and adding a parking space.

Now that construction is in full gear, its plans also include paving the driveway with marked spaces and handicapped parking; using natural gas instead of fuel oil; creating a dedicated children’s area with a low wall; and setting aside more than 400 square feet for an additional basement for additional on site storage. Given how “chopped up” the side area is where the children’s area and stairs are located, Gamble said when the renovation is done, one of the first things patrons will notice is that the former stairs will be replaced by a big open area, similar to the public meeting area inside the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex.

Having received approval on the library’s overall design from the New York State Historical Preservation Office, Gamble informed library patrons and town residents that by late spring/early summer of 2021, they’ll be able to see a new entrance welcoming them into a facility that’s “fully handicapped accessible, energy efficient and features a bright, modern, yet cozy design.” 

Regarding the open space that will be created during the renovation, he highlighted the new electrical and lighting systems as well as the new roof, energy efficient window treatments and the relaxed reading lounge and community meeting space area.

Envisioning a state of the art facility for the community, Gamble spoke with enormous satisfaction about the details the library is trying to incorporate, from the ADA-compliant bathrooms (complete with both a men’s and a women’s rest room and an electric hand dryer to avoid towel waste) and drinking fountains with a place for people to fill their water bottles to the librarian’s office (complete with a lunch counter and kitchenette) and the WiFi access and data ports. 

Building a dream

With Ducillo Construction serving as general contractor, the first work day was on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Since then, incoming patrons and motorists passing by the library have often been able to spot the construction equipment digging deep into the earth at the west side of the existing building, bringing the library another step closer to its goal with each mound of dirt removed.

After running into some water issues, the library had a couple of change orders and has had to make a more substantial foundation and deal with drainage. Cement for part of the basement and the remainder of the cement pad was poured in sections. Library Director Victoria Herow said the cement for the basement walls was poured on Election Day, Nov. 3, while another section was poured in mid-December. The library now has a full basement. Before long, residents will see the new structure taking shape as the library begins building upward.

Gamble said the board hopes to close the extension this winter so builders can continue interior work. Once the new building reaches 89% completion, he said they plan to move new furniture, bookshelves and other items into the new space, and then begin renovating the existing library structure.

Gamble said while the board initially anticipated an opening date of Tuesday, June 1, it’s now hopeful the addition will open on Wednesday, June 30.

Funding the expansion

From the moment the idea of expanding took root to today, with construction underway, the Amenia Free Library gives credit to the community for its generous support. Donations and contributions have made the expansion possibile. 

In addition to past contributions from annual appeals starting in 1994, Gamble reported that the community’s donations and building fund monies have so far totaled $350,052, which made the library eligible for a Public Library Construction grant worth $445,611 from the New York State Education Department this past November. So far, the  library has received $401,049 (or 90%) of this grant, according to Library Treasurer Linda Gregory, and it expects to receive the remaining 10% once the project is completed.

Gamble said the library has already paid for a myriad of project costs, including: engineering and architecture fees; Planning Board fees; Builders Risk Insurance and builder fees in the amount of $221,000-plus (and he thanked the Amenia Town Board for waiving the building permit fee, which saved the library at least $4,000). 

Looking over how the library saved money on this project, he said that in addition to getting state aid, the library had more than $263,000 in its building fund account and received $43,000 in pledges from local individuals and nonprofits. 

Budget shortfall

Taking into account recent change orders for soil and the foundation issues as well as new furniture, bookshelves and other furnishings, the project’s total projected “all in” cost has been calculated at $1,180,000. After calculating the library’s total funding to date, Gamble said the library has $972,611 in its coffers, leaving it about $200,000 short of the project total. At this point, he said the library is hoping to raise the rest of it or, if necessary, take out a small mortgage.

“I think the one point we always want to make is that all of the money for the construction and the furnishing is coming from donations, not the money that we get through taxes,” Gamble said. “The board and the public at large are responsible for raising the money for us to put this together.”

To help the library reach its $1 million fundraising goal, Gregory said residents can either stop by the library or contact her at 845-373-9757. As there are still a lot of opportunities to add one’s name to the library’s new addition, she said anyone interested in naming rights or naming a portion of the library in honor of or in memory of a loved one can contact her, Gamble or Herow.

“We are a community library,” Gregory said, “and we are here for our residents, so what better way to reach out to our community?”

Future looks bright

When asked what it means to her to see this project become a reality, Herow immediately spoke of the programs the library will be able to host and said the expansion shows the library will be here for the community long into the future.

“I’m excited because we’ll have more room for patrons to come and stay,” she said. “As cozy as the space that we have now is, it’ll be exciting to have space and room to grow.”

“Libraries are just so important,” Gamble said. “We just find every day if you just sit and watch how many people come in and out and to be able to give them what everybody deserves in a library, that’s really the goal.”