Gary LeBeau

LeBeau Announces $3 Million for Raymond Library Expansion

EAST HARTFORD—Just three weeks after touring the Raymond Library with Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. to highlight the need for a state-funded expansion of the cramped library, state Sen. Gary D. LeBeau (D-East Hartford) announced today that the State Bond Commission is expected to approve a $3 million grant for the library expansion when it meets Friday, October 28 in Hartford.

“This is the culmination of months of hard work by me and Mayor Marcia Leclerc and Representative Genga. I couldn’t be more pleased,” Sen. LeBeau said. “The Raymond Library is a vital resource to the residents of East Hartford, especially for those looking to update their job skills or search for new employment. For a long time, its cramped facilities have not been as conducive to research and learning as they could be. We should see an end to that with this very necessary and welcome state grant. I also want to thank Senate President Don Williams for his interest in this project and for helping to secure this bonding in an expeditious manner.”

“This is a great day for our community of East Hartford,” Mayor Leclerc said. “The expansion of the library is a pathway to success for our community. It serves as a catalyst for education, job creation and technology. I am overjoyed that my passion to make this a reality has been fulfilled.”

On September 29, Sen. LeBeau toured the Raymond Library for over an hour with Senate President Williams, East Hartford state Rep. Henry Genga, Mayor Leclerc and Library Director Pat Jones. The purpose of the tour was to acquaint Sen. Williams with the dire need for expansion funds and to build legislative and local support for the release of $3 million in state bonding to undertake the proposed $6 million renovation. East Hartford residents have already approved bonding $2 million for the project, and another $1 million has been pledged by a state library fund.

The Raymond Library only has about one-third the space per capita compared with other towns its size. A 2010 report by the Connecticut State Library showed that East Hartford has an average 0.37 square feet of library space per capita compared with 0.98 square feet per capita for towns of similar size. The proposed expansion will double the size of the library’s current 17,900 square feet.