Seward Announces $112,500

For Worcester’s New Library

WORCESTER – State Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, today announced a $112,500 grant for the Worcester Free Library, which will be used to acquire and renovate a former mansion next to the current library in the Weiting Building.

Work has already begun on the building, which was provided to the library by county Rep. Don Lindberg, R-Worcester.

The grant, the only one to Otsego County, was the second biggest of nine, totalling $685,000, provided to Seward’s senatorial district, second only to $211,000 given to the Finger Lakes Library System for a new facility in Ithaca.

“Electronic lending has skyrocketed and many people utilize the Internet at their local library to job search or catch up on news from around the globe. It is vital that libraries are able to keep up with changing needs,” said Seward, who is a member of the Senate’s Select Committee on Libraries.

The allocation is part of $14 million contained annually in the state budget and distributed through the state Dormitory Authority. The Village Library of Cooperstown hopes to obtain some of that funding in future years for the renovation of 22 Main St.

Here is the list of libraries that will receive state funding