By LINDSAY CAREY STAFF WRITER Town councilor and chairman of the state Library Board John Barry announced that the State Library has awarded Southington Public Library with a construction grant for $1 million to expand and renovate the library. “As many of you know, the grant application can be very competitive and challenging,” said Barry, who credited Library Director Sue Smayda with the success of the grant passing. “This is largest grant at this time that the state Library Board can award.” The proposed plan for the Southington Public Library will expand the now 21,000 square foot property to allow for additional meeting and programming spaces to be added, and also making the library handicap accessible. “Southington’s population has increased by 30 percent since the library was originally built,” said Barry. “The project will renovate and add 23,000 square feet to a 40 year old library building that, in my opinion, is experiencing some severe space and infrastructure problems,” According to Barry, the state Library Board agreed that expansion is required to address the space limitations, improve infrastructure, energy efficiency, handicap accessibility and upgrading facility for new technology. “It’s really tremendously exciting and validates the hard work I put into […]
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