State and local officials dug shovels into the ground on a new state-of-the-art library in the Town of Irondequoit on Wednesday.
"Our new library, the library of the future, is about much more than a place to store display books,” says Town Supervisor Adam Bello. “It's a place of sharing learning experiences and building a community."
The $13 million library is being built on the lawn next to the Irondequoit Town Hall on Titus Avenue. It combines both of the town’s existing libraries into one.
Bello says the new book conservatory will include children and teen libraries, a community meeting room, group and quiet study areas and outdoor courtyards.
"There has been in the past a sense that Irondequoit is a town defined in many ways by controversy rather than a cooperative spirit,” Bello says. “And far too often it's that perception of division that has held us back as a community. Today, we've turned that image on its head."
Bello says a new traffic pattern on the Town Hall’s campus allows the library to have a drive thru book return.
In a technological era of e-books and e-readers, libraries are still necessary.
"This is a place for neighbors to come together with their children, teens together, homework, do projects together,” says Stephanie Squicciarini, the President of the Irondequoit Library Board.
“It's a place where people can download books for free at the library and ebooks. It’s a place to not just store content but create content."
Irondequoit residents voted to approve the plan twice. The first time was a year ago. The second one was this past December, after a lawsuit was filed stating the proposal violated environmental law.
Bello says the project is projected to be finished on-time and on budget with a grand opening in August of 2015.