Phase 1
Our Phase 1 construction project is complete! (To view videos of the progress, visit our YouTube channel!) We celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 30th. Members of the community enjoyed delicious refreshments, and we received a certificate from the Brewster Chamber of Commerce.
Pictured from left to right: Town of Southeast Council members John Lord & Lynne Eckhardt, Brewster Village Trustees George Gaspar & Mary Bryde, Library Board members Karen DeSantis & Robert Gosselink, Library Director Gina Loprinzo, Chamber of Commerce Director Rose Aglieco, Library Trustees Kevin Finnegan, Margaret Bruen & Peter Carey, Assemblyman Kevin Byrne, and Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell. Photo credit – R. Loprinzo
Phase 2
On November 7th, 2017, the community passed the proposition to move ahead with Phase 2 of the Library Board’s plan to double the size of the library. This expansion will include a community room to accommodate up to 50 people, private study rooms, and an ADA compliant elevator and restrooms – all while respecting and retaining the historic façade of the building and the main Reading Room.
Phase 2 construction began on September 12, 2019! Swift progress is being made as you can see by these photos:
Update October 7, 2019 – Footings are complete and walls are going up very quickly!
October 31, 2019 – An amazing amount of progress in the last three weeks!
December 20, 2019 – Structural steel is going up!
January 16, 2020 – Lots of progress has been made this week! We’re starting to pack up parts of the collection in anticipation of losing access to the lower level. Be assured, we can still get anything you want/need through interlibrary loan!
April, 2020 – Our construction project is currently at a standstill due to the Governor’s orders regarding the COVID-19 virus. Much progress has been made to this point as you can see:
We are still hopeful that the project can be completed sometime this fall as originally planned. We’ll know more once our region has moved into Phase 1 of the Governor’s reopening plan.
Update: September 20, 2021
After many delays, we received a certificate of occupancy and the library reopened to the public on August 23rd. We continue to provide contactless pickup to those who prefer it, but we are thrilled that our patrons can finally come into the newly expanded and renovated building! An official Ribbon Cutting ceremony was held on Saturday, September 18th. Click on this photo to watch a video created by one of the newest additions to our staff, Stephanie Schleicher, with highlights from the event:
How can I find out more?
If you have any questions, you may email Library Director Gina Loprinzo at director@brewsterlibrary.org.