Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (D–Sag Harbor) today announced that the Floyd Memorial Library, Westhampton Free Library, and the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library have been awarded state aid to support construction projects.

The New York State Education Department and the New York State Library have approved 197 construction awards to projects for public libraries and public library systems in legislative districts throughout New York State.This state aid for library construction helps local libraries and library systems to build new libraries, create additions, update electrical wiring and broadband access to accommodate computer technology, meet standards of energy efficiency, renovate facilities to provide full accessibility to library users with disabilities, and provide meeting rooms to accommodate community needs.

Awards granted to Suffolk County libraries located in Assemblyman Thiele’s 1^st Assembly District are as follows:

• Floyd Memorial Library, Greenport:$110,000 to make ADA-compliant upgrades to the outdoor back/side yard gardens; rehabilitate historical front entrance and soffit restoration
• Westhampton Free Library, Westhampton Beach:$7,350 to support expenses associated with the Library’s connection to the sewer system
• Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library, Shirley:$422,500 to upgrade wastewater and fire systems

Assemblyman Thiele stated, “These awards are supported by a $34 million capital fund appropriation in the adopted 2022-2023 State Budget for library construction and renovation projects. I applaud the New York State Education Department and the New York State Library for awarding a portion of this funding to these three fine libraries located in my Assembly District. I am thrilled that so many constituents on the East End will benefit from the enhanced library services made possible through these State funds.”