Federal funding helps launch Franklin Square library renovation planning

A long-planned effort to replace the aging roof at the Franklin Square Public Library took a major step forward, as library officials begin planning comprehensive renovations they agree will protect the building for decades while improving energy efficiency and expanding services for the community.

The project received a $250,000 federal Community Project Funding allocation secured by Rep. Laura Gillen. Library officials said the funding will allow them to begin the architectural and engineering work needed before construction can move forward.

But library leaders emphasized that the project is about far more than replacing a leaking roof.

"This is the first step," Carl Gerrato, the library’s Board of Trustees president, said during Gillen's recent visit to the library on July 31. "If we're going to do it, we might as well do it for the future."

According to Gerrato, the building's original section dates to 1957, while an addition was constructed in 2000. He said roof problems began only a few years after the expansion, and despite repeated repairs, the situation has steadily worsened.

Since 2004, the library has spent an estimated $350,000 trying to stop leaks, Gerrato said. Recent roof scans found that roughly 20 percent of the roof has sustained significant water intrusion.

"It's come to the point now where we have to move forward," he said.

Rather than simply replacing the roof, library officials are developing a long-term modernization plan for the building. One major goal is relocating the extensive heating and cooling equipment from the roof to inside the building, creating a more energy-efficient HVAC system while reducing stress on the roof structure.

Aviva Kane, the library’s director, said the project will also address longstanding issues with temperature control, insulation and humidity throughout the building.

"We have temperature variations in the building," Kane said. "We have exposed walls that don't allow for insulation. I like to say there's a lot of air conditioning above us and a lot of heating above us, but not necessarily in the building."

Maintaining proper humidity levels has also become increasingly difficult, she said, creating challenges for preserving library materials and maintaining a comfortable environment for patrons.

Kane described the library as a critical community resource that serves residents during both everyday life and emergencies.

During the Canadian wildfire smoke that blanketed Long Island several years ago, she said, the library was able to provide residents with cleaner indoor air because of its air filtration systems. The building also served as a community resource during Superstorm Sandy and the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The library has always been a safe space," Kane said. "We look at the library as the community's home."

Library officials said they are determined to avoid repeating mistakes made during previous construction projects by taking time to thoroughly plan the renovation before seeking voter approval for a future bond.

Under New York's property tax cap, libraries have limited ability to set aside money for major capital projects, making outside funding and long-term planning especially important.

Gerrato said the board is gathering feedback from employees and will eventually seek community input to help shape the renovation.

"We're going to do everything thoughtfully," he said. "Everything moving forward is going to be transparent. We have a fiduciary responsibility, and we take it extremely seriously."

In addition to the needed roof repairs and creating a more energy-efficient HVAC system, library officials are seeking to make major upgrades to the library’s interior.

Among the improvements under consideration are expanded meeting areas, updated building systems and a larger children's department. Gerrato noted that the children's room remains essentially the same size as when he received his first library card decades ago, despite the library's growing popularity.

"We need a bigger children's room," he said. "We need more meeting space."

Before any construction begins, however, the library must complete architectural plans, engineering studies and environmental reviews required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which administers the federal funding.

"You cannot start work until you do all the paperwork," Gillen said, noting that the federal approval process is designed to ensure projects are completed properly.

Kane said the library has already begun working with HUD officials and participating in training sessions to navigate the grant requirements.

Although construction is still far away, library officials explained that the planning process is essential to ensuring the project meets the community's needs for generations to come.

"Our goal," Gerrato said, "is not just to fix a roof. It's to make sure this library is ready for the next 50 years."