ALBANY - Assemblyman Dan Burling (R, I, C-Warsaw) Thursday announced that two Allegany County libraries have been awarded a combined $42,349 in public library construction funds. The Almond 20th Century Library in Almond, NY will receive $32,349, and the Wide Awake Club Library in Fillmore will receive $10,000.

“Our local libraries are a vital resource for children and adults within the community,” said Burling. “This funding helps our local libraries by providing greater accessibility to learning opportunities and outstanding educational programs, and insures that libraries are available to everyone.”

The $32,349 award will enable the Almond 20th Century Club Library to install an interior lift to create greater accessibility, and construct a new sidewalk to access the entryway to the lift. The Wide Awake Club Library will use its award of $10,000 to install a central air conditioning system and replace all 16 windows at the library.

The grant funds are from a special allocation of $14 million in capital funds for public library construction provided by the New York State Legislature in the 2007-2008 State Budget. Public library construction grants help local libraries and library systems to build new libraries, create additions, update electrical wiring to accommodate computer technology, meet standards of energy efficiency, renovate facilities to provide wheelchair accessible entrances and lavatories to provide full accessibility to library users with disabilities, and provide meeting rooms to accommodate community needs.