Archive: News

A public hearing to gather community input on the proposed gifting of the Lansing Community Library (LCL) building to the library attracted a number of library supporters Wednesday.  Ownership of the building will make the library eligible for grants for capital improvements that were impossible without either building ownership or a long term lease.

"On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Lansing Community Library as well as the Friends of the Library, volunteers and the staff, I'd like to thank the Town Board for their support," said President of LCL Board of Trustees Emily Franco.  "We're looking forward to the transfer of this very important building.  While the entire Lansing community has given us tremendous support, I want to emphasize that this transfer will make the library eligible for grants and funding that were not previously available, especially with regard to building maintenance and repairs, which are significant in a building that is as old as our library."

Franco noted that ownership of the building will also be an advantage as the library seeks to obtain its permanent charter this year.  She said it demonstrates the level of support and commitment the library enjoys in the community.

Former President of Friends of LCL Donna Scott outlined the community support the library has enjoyed since it began a dozen years ago.  She said that at least 210 people have volunteered over LCL's 12 1/2 years.  27 of those have volunteered since the library's inception.  She said that number does not include about a half dozen community organizations that have contributed to the library over the years, or the many people who donated money.

The building was originally a school house that later became the Lansing Town Hall.  After the present Town Hall was built town officials planned to demolish the old building.  Instead, a group of volunteers asked to be allowed to raise money to renovate the building and turn it into a library.  The library opened in 2001.

Librarian Susie Gutenberger-Fitzpatrick said that long term capital plans include improving the stairway on the back of the building that faces Route 34B, updating the tutoring room and turning it into a teen space, new flooring upstairs, new shelving, updated plumbing, and other projects over the next ten years.

"About $350,000 in grants per year come to our community from the State and the Finger Lakes Library System, but because we don't have a long term lease or ownership of the building we can't apply for those grants," she explained.  "We'll be able to apply for some of those now."

She noted that 2371 active library patrons that live in Lansing have used their library cards in the past year.

The gift will be made by the Town Board when they pass a law that will also provide that if the library does not need the building for any reason in the future it will cede back to the Town.  Supervisor Kathy Miller explained that they are waiting for a final survey to be completed before the law can be passed.

The Board did pass an agreement with the library for shared custodial and maintenance services.

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