LIA: Teens Fundraise to Support Carnegie Library

The Teen Friends of the Patchogue-Medford Library raised $500 from ten book sales in order to help with the library's efforts to restore the Carnegie Library, according to The Long Island Advance's Feb. 21 issue.

Carnegie Library was given to Patchogue-Medford Library (PML) by the Patchogue Village Board of Trustees in August. PML intends to use the building to expand its Young Adult section. The Carnegie Library itself was moved the same month from its former Lake Street location to the property of the Sixth District Court to make way for the incoming Tritec's New Village development.

According to the Advance, the group held ten book sales for four hours at a time on Saturdays, with books costing 25 cents each. Library Director Dina Chrils told the Advance that the library will need to raise about $1 million for the restoration.

"We have some capital funds, but it's our intent to raise or get grants for the majority of it," Chrils said in the story. "I'm confident we'll get them."

Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri said in the story that the village is nearing the end of the engineering process for the foundation for Carnegie and for completing its agreement with Suffolk County. He says that construction will not be ongoing in the next three months, with it expected to resume in May or June when the foundation can be started. Upon completion of the foundation, Carnegie will be moved a couple hundred yards.

Suffolk County Legislator Rob Calarco said in the story that the plan is for the library to face Main Street, with the front even with the courthouse.

Check the full story in The Long Island Advance (PDF, page 3), for more details including Patchogue-Medford Library's plans to build a basement, grant efforts and other restoration details.