DURHAM – State Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford) and the members of the Durham state legislative delegation today announced that the State Bond Commission today approved a $147,000 state grant to help support renovations to the Durham Public Library.
“This bonding for the Durham Public Library shows government and bipartisan advocacy at its best,” Sen. Cohen said. “We listened to local officials, did our due diligence, and worked together as a team for the benefit of the people of Durham. I want to thank my legislative colleagues and Governor Lamont and the State Bond Commission for seeing the value of this public project and for bringing it over the goal line.”
For several years, the Durham Public Library has been developing a plan to update the library interior, which is essentially unchanged from the 1980s. The library developed a plan that will provide new quiet study areas, community gathering spaces, and updated technology access. The project will also add automated entry doors and ADA-compliant furnishings to improve access.
“The library is dedicated to providing the residents of Durham with reliable access to books, programming, and other informational resources,” the Durham lawmakers wrote earlier this year in a joint letter urging support for the library. “It is a vital asset to our community, serving over 100,000 patrons annually. The library’s appearance and functionality are of upmost importance to encourage an adequate learning environment.”
Durham’s legislative delegation s comprised of Sen. Cohen, state Senator Paul Cicarella (R-34), House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora (R-84) and Representative John-Michael Parker (D-101).