Warwick's new library in the works

Grand opening in March 2009, By Linda Smith Hancharick Warwick — After 80 years in the same building, Warwick will indeed be getting a new library, thanks to the voters in the Warwick Valley School District who gave their approval a week ago Thursday by a vote of 1,412-1,176. The voters approved bonding up to $8.5 million for the new 20,000-square-foot library. The current building is 5,000 square feet and is not accessible to handicapped patrons. According to the Albert Wisner Public Library board, the institution was limited in the number of programs offered because of inadequate space. The library was a very happy place last Friday, according to Library Director Rosemary Cooper. There were lots of happy patrons, even some who sent flowers and candy to the staff. The outcome of this referendum was much different than the one held nine years ago. “Things have turned around for us since then,” said Cooper. “The work we have done has been enough to gain the support of the voting public.” This plan has been in the works for quite some time and had been revised over that time period, making the space smaller than originally planned because of rising costs. “We never kept pushing for a bigger and bigger space,” said Cooper. “People have said we must live within our means. I think we have done that.” For a community of nearly 22,000, Warwick’s current library was a fraction of the size recommended by the state. The numbers Taxpayers in the Warwick Valley School District who live in the town of Warwick will pay an additional $1.48 per $1,000 of assessed value for the new library. This is in addition to the current $2.04 per $1,000 charged for the library’s operating budget. Chester taxpayers in the school district will pay an additional 35 cents per $1,000 for the new building. Their share of the operating budget per $1,000 of assessed value is 51 cents. Residents of the Florida School District pay $3.38 per $1,000 for their library services; residents of Greenwood Lake pay $5.68 per $1,000 for theirs. Both the library management and some Sugar Loaf residents are working toward changing the library charters in the Town of Chester and the Warwick School District. These residents are paying for two libraries - one in their town and one in their school district - but may only get one library card. Chester’s library is a town library and encompasses the entire town. Warwick’s library is a school district library and includes the entire district. They have been working toward making being part of only one library district for about two years now. Cooper said she will continue to work with the residents to have this rectified. What’s next? Cooper said the focus now shifts to a grand opening celebration in March 2009. Lots of work must be done before that, including preparing construction documents to go out for bids. The new library will include a children’s room of 4,000 square feet, a flexible multi-purpose room for programs, community meetings and study space, a Warwick Room to showcase the area’s historical heritage and 60 parking spaces. In addition, the design includes geothermal heating, which is environmentally friendly and will reduce heating costs. A $100,000 gift from an anonymous donor will help to enhance the new library. In addition, the Friends of the Library and personal donations have amounted to nearly $200,000 for the cause. When the current building is sold, that money will go toward the $8.5 million debt. The 2.2 acre property that will be home to the new library was donated by Leyland Alliance, developers of Warwick Grove. “This has never been about a better place for our staff,” Cooper said. “It has always been for the community. I suspect that even those who did not support this referendum will greatly benefit and come to appreciate what it means to this community. This is deeply gratifying. It is incredibly great.”