BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON -- A state grant has helped pay for a boiler replacement and an access ramp replacement at the Canton Free Library.

“The library construction program is incredibly important for libraries like CFL. Our old buildings need constant maintenance and updates, and we'd never be able to do big renovation projects like the boiler replacement without grants,” stated CFL Director Emily Owen Hastings. “The $56,250 we received from the State Library covered 75 percent of the cost for a new boiler that's correctly sized for our building-- we'd been operating on an undersized boiler for almost 20 years.”

She reported the same program covered the access ramp replacement last year.

“We're in the process of submitting another application to cover replacement of our handicapped access lift and ADA updates to our public restrooms,” Hastings noted.

Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown) announced the library allocations on Friday, Aug. 11.

In addition, $33,050 in grant money was allocated to Rensselaer Falls Library.

“The $33,050 for Rensselaer Falls is part of a really exciting cooperative project between the library and village to renovate and expand their shared building. This grant covered 75 percent of the cost of converting basement offices to a storage area, and we're already working on the next stage, which includes an addition that would double the size of the library and add a community meeting room,” said Hastings.

“We received grants from Northern New York Library Network and the Canton Community Fund to hire River Street Consulting for the project, and they're helping us survey Falls residents to get their input on the project,” she added.

Residents can access the survey link through the library's Facebook page or at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RFLibrarySurvey.

“I’m incredibly grateful that these local libraries within the 116th Assembly District were awarded funds to carry out critical projects. These libraries will now be able to better serve their employees and community members and support their longevity for years to come,” Gray said. “I’m proud to have voted for bill A.3004-D in this year’s state budget, which included funding for capital projects such as this. These institutions foster literacy, critical thinking and a lifelong love for learning, playing a pivotal role in education at all stages of life. I will continue to support crucial investments into our communities,” commented Gray.