A very well-known and popular program of the Division of Library Development is State Aid for Library Construction. Funding for this program comes through the New York State annual budget and provides much needed funding for public and association libraries and public library systems across the state. In FY2024-2025, funding was appropriated for $44 million, an increase of $10 million over the prior fiscal year. A needs assessment conducted by DLD collected data from libraries across the state and indicates an additional $1.75 billion in essential library construction costs for 2023-2027.
Review of the FY2024-2025 projects is continuing, and we hope to have the projects sent to DASNY for review in March. As part of regular communications with the field, Program Manager Natalie McDonough has begun regularly scheduled meetings to discuss questions, updates, and suggestions from our partners in New York’s 23 public library systems. Response to these meetings has been very positive and system contacts have expressed appreciation for this new opportunity to collaborate.