Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D- Columbia, Dutchess) announced the procurement of state funding for improvements to the Poughkeepsie Public Library District (Boardman Road Branch Library) and the Hudson Area Association Library. The funding was included in the 2014-15 state budget as part of a $14 million Public Library Construction Grant Program.

“Libraries continue to play a very important – and ever-evolving – role in our communities,” Assemblymember Didi Barrett said. “The 15 libraries in my Assembly district are all part of the Mid-Hudson Library System which shares books, materials and services throughout the region. I’m pleased that we could provide support to help start-up, maintain and expand crucial programs that benefit so many families.”

The Public Library Construction Grant Program awarded $93,671 to the Poughkeepsie Public Library District to help pay for costs associated with the construction of the new 14,000-foot Boardman Road Branch Library in the Town of Poughkeepsie. The Boardman Road Branch replaced the 6,500-square-foot Arlington Branch Library to better accommodate the public through additional computers, after-school programs and larger meeting areas. The grant program also awarded the Hudson Area Association Library with $59,769 to improve service space for both adult and children's areas in the new library building currently under construction.

The funding follows a $10,000 Special Legislative Project Grant awarded by Assemblymember Didi Barrett, to the Mid-Hudson Library System, to help support summer reading programs in public libraries throughout the district. These summer reading programs provide a fun, stimulating way for students to continue to learn and keep their minds engaged throughout summer vacation.

“Summer reading programs are time-tested winners when it comes to both having fun and keeping kids from losing ground over the summer. I am proud to support any program that stimulates imagination and encourages lifetime readers,” Assemblymember Barrett added.