A library in Mercer County plans to upgrade its decades-old infrastructure after receiving a federal grant, local officials announced Tuesday.
Hamilton Township was awarded nearly $1.6 million for public library improvements, officials said. The money will be used to replace deteriorating and broken windows, renovate bathrooms and upgrade the children’s area with new furniture, bookshelves and play areas, officials said.
All of the windows, bathrooms and items from the children’s section are original to the building from the 1970s, library officials said.
“Updating the library and other outdated infrastructure has been a top priority,” said Hamilton Mayor Jeff Martin. “The library is a place for our residents to use for a variety of services and these funds will ensure it continues to be a community asset for many more years.”
The Hamilton Township Public Library, which serves more than 90,000 residents, has been at its current location on Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. Way since the 1970s, officials said.
The federal funding was secured with the help of U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd Dist., local officials said.
“The Hamilton Public Library has tirelessly served Mercer County families for decades without the interior upgrades it and our neighbors deserve,” said Kim. “I am proud to bring over $1.5 million back to address an important local need, in particular to make the library more accessible to members of the community with disabilities and strengthen its resources for kids.”
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Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
