Who doesn’t love the Rye library?
Who doesn’t love the Rye library? The 100-year-old landmarked building sits proudly on the Village Green. Readers walk — and race — through the doors for books, programs, research help, computer stations, and often just a comfortable reading chair.
But in order to not only stay current but also remain ahead of the technological curve, the director and trustees of the Rye Free Reading Room have set a new course for the next 100 years. For the last year, they’ve been quietly raising money to restore and improve the interior spaces. On October 26 at 5, they invite the whole community to a gathering at which they will officially announce their initiative to raise $2,000,000.
As the trustees noted in their invitation, “The Rye Free Reading Room must address the shift that is transforming libraries from quiet spaces of independent reading into community living rooms that foster conversation, group learning, and hands-on experiences.”
In the last dozen years, the RFRR has added a Community Room, and created both a Technology Center and a designated Teen Room, thanks to the generosity of many.
Among their exciting future plans are a first-floor café next to the Community Room and a two-story Atrium overlooking Blind Brook that will include comfortable seating, much like a living room, in 1,400 square feet. The design will be flexible enough to enable the library to host more community events.
