Elmont Library receives $125,000 facility grant

As Elmont teens played video games after school in the Elmont Memorial Library’s Teen Annex room, New York State Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages walked in to present a $125,000 grant to the library on June 15. Librarian in-charge Mara Marin said the state grant would allow the library to pay for the continued development of the Teen Multi-Purpose Room in the basement.

“Our teen corner upstairs is mostly used for studying, but down here they can enjoy our activities and be as loud as they want when they’re having fun,” Marin said.

Solages, who had presented similar grants to other local schools and libraries in Elmont and Valley Stream, had approached the Elmont Memorial Library to brainstorm ideas for new development. Library officials settled on augmenting the Teen Annex room in order to keep Elmont’s teens involved with projects and community activities. Solages said even a simple afternoon of video games could do the teens some good.

“They were probably going to play games at home anyway, but this place helps them make new friends and network in a public space,” she said.

The library usually hosts several educational and community service programs for teenagers of all ages in the Annex. Programs happening this summer include new book clubs, video game tournaments, break dancing workshops and Do It Yourself Crafting events. Library officials said the grant would allow the library to invest in additional technologies that would enhance their learning programs and seminars.

“This funding came at the most opportune time, providing our teen community with a state-of-the-art space in the Elmont Memorial Library,” Livingstone Young, president of the library board, said in a statement.