The James Prendergast Library is undergoing a major construction project this year that will include a new outdoor patio and walkway, as well as improvements to the library’s HVAC system. Pictured, from left, are Jennifer Champ, assistant library manager, and Anne Greene, executive director. P-J photo by Timothy Frudd

The James Prendergast Library is working on a construction project that will feature a new outdoor patio and walkway for community members to enjoy in the coming months.

Anne Greene, executive director, said the James Prendergast Library is constructing the new patio due to the significant growth of the library’s outdoor programs over the past several years.

“We’ve had increased attendance at summer outdoor story time, summer lunches and we’ve had a lot of special events out there and just lots of people attending,” she said. “The Jamestown Mobile Market comes and they bring a lot of people to the library, and busy programs made for a messy lawn area, so the patio will provide a beautiful new space to hold programs and events or simply for people to enjoy our beautiful library.”

As a result of the excitement and enthusiasm for the library and the programs offered by the library, Greene said the James Prendergast Library decided to apply for state aid for library construction funding. After applying for funding, the library was awarded $214,983 in New York State Public Library construction funds. Additionally, the library received matching grants from both the Lenna Foundation and the Sheldon Foundation. The Lenna Foundation contributed $37,200, and the Sheldon Foundation contributed $37,165.

The funding received by the James Prendergast Library will cover the cost of a new patio, a walkway around the building, built-in benches, a new bicycle rack, built-in trash receptacles, and outdoor lighting. In addition to the outdoor construction, the library is upgrading its HVAC system with a portion of the allocated funding.

“All of these upgrades include a temperature control, installing a smart building management system, updating the HVAC with a dual filtration system, replacing the old system’s chiller with a modern high efficiency chiller,” Greene said. “In the future, the library will explore more options for increasing sustainability, operations and improving accessibility in and around the building.”

While the new patio has not yet been constructed, Greene said the outdoor lighting project has already been completed. Once the new patio is constructed in early June, the library will plant community gardens to beautify the space. The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation provided the library with a $4,000 grant toward the community gardens, which Greene said will go around the patio.

“We’re very excited about that as well,” she said.

Greene told The Post-Journal that the new outdoor patio should be completed prior to this year’s community block party.

“That’s a very exciting event,” she said. “We’ll be hosting the second annual community block party on Saturday June 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We like to celebrate our community in the library and community members can learn all about other organizations, and there will be a lot of fun activities so everyone can enjoy the day.”

This year’s community block party will feature the dedication of the library’s new outdoor patio in memory of Jim Roselle, a former supporter and board member of the Jame Prendergast Library and a major advocate of the Jamestown community.

“It’s very important,” she said. “We have a lot of community leaders coming, hopefully. He was always in the library. His daughter, Julie, said, ‘We always knew where to find dad, at the library.’ Jim always said, ‘The most important card in your wallet is your library card.'”

In addition to providing an enhanced experience at the community block party, Greene explained that the outdoor patio and community gardens will “beautify” the space surrounding the library and will make the library a “beautiful place” for community members to enjoy. She said the patio will be used throughout the year for various programs and events, crafting classes, book clubs, music classes and story times.

“It will also be a wonderful place to relax, enjoy a book, meet family and friends or a special place just for the community to enjoy,” she said. “It’s going to be beautiful; we’re pretty excited about it. It’s a big project.”

Asked about any other future projects, Greene said the library is currently only working on its patio and HVAC system construction project.