- By Dan Veaner
- Around Town
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 State Senator Michael Nozzolio and Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton break ground for the Library's Phase II capital expansion |
Lansing's library opened in the old Town Hall building only four years ago after a survey of town residents yielded 90% positive response to creating a library here. The library opened July 21, 2001 with a small number of books provided by the Tompkins County Library.
 The additions will include two towers and a new entrance facing the Town Hall, additional stacks space, a reading room, elevator, computer room and more storage, administrative and book processing space. |
Today LCLC boasts over 10,000 books and more than 2,000 patrons. It is open 6 days a week with 40-50 volunteers ranging in age between 6 and 86 years old, working 400-500 hours per month. Additionally the Library offers high speed wireless Internet access, videos and programs, including the hugely successful Summer Reading Program. Ms. Darfler says the community wants more. "They want more books, they want more programing, they want more hours. So we listened and we backed their desires with money."
The Friends of the Library (FOL) raised more than $150,000 in the past year, as well as $150,000 of State funding through the efforts of Senator Nozzolio, former Assemblyman Marty Luster and Assemblywoman Lifton. The capital campaign has been extended another $50,000 which the FOL hopes to raise from among individual community members.
 (left to right) Holly Hardie, Fundraising Chair Cathy Miller, Town Suprervisor Stephen Farkas, State Senator Michael Nozzolio, Library Chairwoman Marlaine Darfler, State Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, Triad Foundation's Joanne Florino, LCLC Treasurer Cliff Buck, Donna Scott |
The first donation of $25,000 came from the Triad Foundation, formerly known as the Park Foundation. Other donations quickly followed from such donors as BorgWarner Morse TEC, Clifford B. Buck, Katherine L. Buck, Cargill Deicing Technology, Emerson Power Transmission Corporation, Gregg & Betsy Galvin, Hardie Farms, IMR Test Labs, The Lakewatch Inn, Andy & Rosemary Sciarabba, Tompkins County Foundation, The Triad Foundation, Inc. and Vertical Access LLC.
At the same time the Library is pursuing a goal of becoming a Charter Library, which will mean that the Lansing community will support it at a greater level, determining by a public vote the level of support and appointing a board of directors to run it, to hire a professional librarian and to help it continue to grow as the community demands more.
"It's just so gratifying to see everyone here," said Senator Nozzolio. "I want to give a special thanks to Alice Farkas, who took me around the dust and the sawdust, to see the vision that this community has to open up this window on the world." He added, "There is no finer investment than putting our tax dollars into libraries. Congratulations to Lansing for its vision and community spirit. I'm very glad to be part of it."
 New towers will flank a stairway leading to the new main entrance that will face the Town Hall, contributing to the Town Square that has been developing on the Ridge Road site. |
Assemblywoman Lifton told the crowd, "As a former High School English Teacher libraries are very dear to my heart." She told the story of Thomas Wolfe, who was seen crying on the steps of the library at Harvard, because he had realized he wouldn't live long enough to read all the books there. "It's a tremendously hopeful thing that you're adding onto the library here in Lansing and elevating the culture here in Tompkins County." She concluded by pledging her future help.
Other officials and donors also got to shovel dirt, including Holly Hardie, Town Supervisor Steve Farkas, Triad Foundation's Joanne Florino, LCLC Treasurer Cliff Buck and Donna Scott.
Marlaine Darfler
After the ceremony everyone retired into the Town Hall for a reception, where supporters ate and learned more about the library. Speakers included Ms. Darfler, Kathy Buck, Sandy Dhimitri and Cliff Buck. Ms. Dhimitri noted that LCLC has purchased a large list of books suggested as additional reading by the High School Librarian and English teachers, as well as juvenile pleasure reading titles suggested by the Elementary School librarian.
Treasurer Buck spoke to the finances. He reported, "We currently have a very healthy general fund. And we have raised a little over $318,000 for our capital campaign." He noted that the library has not spent more than it has raised, staying in the black throughout its history.
All present supported the lofty goals of the library. Ms. Darfler said, "Free access to information is a cornerstone of democracy." They also support the down-to-Earth things that made this community's dream come true.
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