Rogers Memorial Library Celebrates 2024 Revitalization Campaign Launch With Community Open House

The Rogers Memorial Library hosted a successful open house on Saturday, November 9, to launch its much-anticipated 2024 Library Revitalization Campaign and celebrate 25 years in its current building. This milestone event welcomed community members, families, and local officials and showcased the library’s plans to serve Southampton’s growing and diverse needs with updated facilities and programming.

Southampton Mayor Bill Manger, Jr., and renowned television journalist Chuck Scarborough were among the special guests at the event. Both spoke passionately about the project’s importance to the community. Library Director Liz Burns and Foundation Board President George Crawford shared inspiring details about the campaign, joined by trustee Jim Gray, all of whom highlighted the revitalization’s focus on inclusivity, technology, and enriching community spaces.

Attendees of all ages enjoyed the festivities, including face painting and arts and crafts for children. There were offerings from Scotto’s pizza truck and an ice cream truck.

A Campaign for a Thriving Community Hub

A highlight of this project will be a new café with an adjoining outdoor patio. “Libraries today have become community centers, and this feature will offer a great space for patrons to interact,” said Liz Burns, Library Director.

The library’s revitalization will provide updated resources to better serve the community. Significant upgrades will include a new tech lab, private study rooms, expanded teen programming and spaces, improved accessibility, and the vibrant new café. This renovation underscores the library’s commitment to fostering knowledge, creativity, and lifelong learning, aiming to transform it into a dynamic, modern hub for residents of all ages.

“For close to 100 years, the Library was located on Job’s Lane. After outgrowing the iconic red-brick building, a beautiful new library was built at the corner of Coopers Farm Road and Windmill Lane,” said Burns. “This revitalization will allow us to touch even more lives and bring the library into a new era of service to our incredible community.”