NEW ROCHELLE, NY (March 10, 2026) — New York State Sens. Shelley Mayer and Nathalia Fernandez and Assemblymembers Steve Otis and Amy Paulin joined leaders of the New Rochelle Public Library on March 3 to celebrate $1,180,544 in total state funding secured by the four legislators to support capital improvements to the library’s infrastructure.
The funding will support projects intended to maintain the safety, comfort and long-term sustainability of the library’s main building, which serves thousands of residents each year.
The New Rochelle Public Library received $180,544 in State Aid for Library Construction to replace the theater and entrance roofs and renovate the multi-stack chiller used to maintain the building’s air conditioning system. The funds are part of $44 million allocated statewide for public library construction and broadband infrastructure projects in the fiscal year 2024–2025 New York State budget.
In addition, Mayer and Fernandez and Otis and Paulin each secured $250,000 through the State and Municipal Facilities Grant program, totaling $1 million to support replacement of the main library building’s roof. The program provides funding for infrastructure improvements to public facilities throughout New York State.
“These investments are essential to maintaining the Library as a safe, welcoming, and comfortable space for our community,” said Eugenia Schatoff, executive director of the New Rochelle Public Library. “From protecting the integrity of the building’s roof to ensuring that our climate systems operate reliably, these improvements help safeguard a public resource that thousands of residents rely on every year. We are deeply grateful to Senators Mayer and Fernandez and Assemblymembers Otis and Paulin for their continued advocacy and strong support for the New Rochelle Public Library.”
Library officials said the projects will help protect the building and ensure its theater, collections and public spaces remain accessible and comfortable for generations of New Rochelle residents.
The New Rochelle Public Library was chartered in 1894 and serves approximately 81,500 residents. The library operates from its main building in the downtown business district, where it has been located since 1979, and also operates the Huguenot Children’s Library branch located in the park in front of New Rochelle High School.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.