Library Moves Forward with Improvement Plans

The Village moved another step forward with plans to renovate and improve the Scarsdale Library at their March 10 meeting when they accepted gifts totaling $105,000 and designated the funds to retain Dattner Architects to further develop the library master plan for a project that is estimated to cost $12 million.

The Scarsdale Library Board has been formulating plans to renovate and expand the building to improve services, better use the space, enhance its technological capacity and create a physical environment that will be a "welcoming and versatile learning center." The Board retained architects to do a master plan that was completed in 2013 and estimates that the total project cost will be $12 million. The Village Board has asked the Library Board to raise $4.5 million and will match this with a contribution of $4.5 million in funds. An additional $3 million will need to be raised to complete the entire project, which will be done in three phases. The plan is to keep the library open during all phases of construction.

At the Board meeting on Tuesday night they accepted a gift of $75,000 from Steven and Barbara Kessler and $30,000 from the E. Wachs Foundation in memory of Elise Maas. The funds will be used to pay for architectural services for schematic designs, design development, construction bid document preparation and bid analysis.

Trustee Stacey Brodsky, who served as the Trustee Liaison to the Library Board said, "The Board will undertake an enormous fundraising campaign to fund renovations and changes to the library to make it a library of the 21st century. Our community is accustomed to giving modest gifts to the Friends of the Library but now the library is looking for real generosity from the community to help develop the library, which is our community space. They plan to build the library that our community wants. The master plan came directly from interviews and focus groups with community members. The Village has in principal agreed to match $4.5 of funds raised --but it will be a $12 million project – not $9 million. The library is asking you to think what it means to you. Please respond when the campaign goes public."

Library Director Elizabeth Bermel said, "We are thrilled to take this next major step toward our goal of transforming the Library into a wonderful space for the whole community to enjoy. We know that big changes are needed to meet the expectations of our residents and we are so grateful to the generous donors who are helping make this happen."