Caldwell-Lake George Library to make major renovations

LAKE GEORGE | At less than 1,000 square feet, the Caldwell-Lake George Library may seem small by size standards, but it has proven itself a giant in terms of community outreach. Finishing off a highly successful year and looking forward to major upgrades in 2026, the library is anticipating further growth, both physically and in terms of services for residents and visitors. "We are loud and proud about what we are doing," said Laura Burrows, Library Director for the past five years. "Public support for the library is high; people see this is valuable can't believe how much our little library is doing." In 2024, the library had over 10,000 visitors, and has already exceeded that number in 2025, with figures expected to continue to rise. Chartered in 1906, Caldwell-Lake George Library is on the cusp of celebrating 120 years of service to the Lake George community next year. Expectedly, there will be commemoration events, with a planned presentation detailing the library's history in the pipeline. "We will be reaching out to people to ask to share memories of the library to help us compile that history," Burrows said. "We also have some really big projects in the works, including a big construction project." That construction project has been on the wish list of the library for quite some time. With the main room being constructed in 1906 and the secondary room a 1950s addition, there has been room for improvement in the 21st century. "We have been dreaming about a way to make this building more accessible to everyone," Burrows revealed. " We have an aging handicap ramp, it's flawed, these things were built 50 years ago- things need to be updated." There were plans for a project that would make Caldwell-Lake George Library fully ADA accessible for quite some time, but funding proved to be an obstacle to overcome. However, with the awarding of $433,000 from the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative Grant, the library is now poised to deliver on that wish. "The DRI project is huge for us and has made all the difference," Burrows noted. "One of the goals we set forth in our long-range planning service was improving accessibility, and this couldn't have come at a better time for us." With the Town of Lake George sponsoring the application, Caldwell-Lake George Library will now be able to accomplish a small addition to the back of the library that will enclose a new lift, bringing people to the main level and lower level with ease. "Every time we do programming right now, we are rolling bookcases out of the way and clearing the space so we can set up chairs for speaker and paint classes, this will allow us to truly use the space in the finished basement for meeting room and program space," Burrows said. The entrance will include automatic doors, and not one but two new accessible bathrooms, relocating the one on the upstairs level and adding a second bathroom downstairs. Currently, the dedicated handicap spot is in front of the building near the ramp, but it is also problematic for someone who is independent and uses a wheelchair. "This will make it easier for people who have stayed away because they are worried about access," Burrows added. New construction is expected to break ground in fall of 2026. The library is seeking an architect to finalize construction documents and is requesting proposals from interested architects. "We are really thankful to have the Town of Lake George's support on this project; they have been fantastic," Burrows praised. The Town of Lake George is the library's major funder. However, the library itself is a private association library not owned by the Town. Rather, it is owned by the trustees of the library, making it a community-owned library. "We are an association library, the town funds us, but they don't govern us, that is an important distinction," Burrows explained. "While we work in partnership with them, they are not in charge of us." That means that donor funding has been and continues to be crucial when it comes to the library making improvements to better serve its patrons. On Tuesday. Oct. 14, a donor appreciation event was held in honor of those who made one of the newest completed initiatives possible. "The event was to thank people for the support they gave us over the last year to redo the circulation desk in the library," Burrows said. " One of the goals we set in the in long-range plan of service was improving accessibility in the library, and one of the ways as we did so was by replacing the circulation desk; it is now better suited for the workflow of staff and more accessible to patrons." One desk is now lower in height, allowing children or people with wheelchairs a more fluid and welcoming exchange. Burrows' desk is now much bigger and boats a greater length, resulting in increased collaboration with her support staff. Prior to the upgrade, she as tucked away in a little corner, which was not only a less-than-ideal working environment but isolating and austere. "We accomplished this all with public support and one small grant from Southern Adirondack Library System Challenge Grant for $5,000," Burrows said. Library patrons Diane and Kurt Wisell immediately stepped up to match the grant, bringing the total to $10,000 of a necessary $26,000 needed. The remaining $16,000 was raised by the support of the community- a few fundraisers, and generous donations placed in the library box, donations from the Friends of the Library made that $26,000 a reality in less than a year. Further help from local company Northern Hardwoods saw materials supplied at a great discount, which contributed to the builder having more raw materials to replace upper cabinets, adding doors to the lower existing cabinets, and making the entire space more functional. "We have many people coming in saying how much they love us and support us, and want to continue to see us do really great things," Burrows remarked. "The public loves the staff and the personal feel of a small library. They appreciate that we know them and what they want to read, and that we have the finger on the pulse as to what they want for programming." Caldwell-Lake George Library offers it programs free to the public. In 2024, there were 211 programs on record, and Burrow believes 2025 is on track to surpass that. "That is unusual for a little library," she admitted. Yoga Story Time every Monday for preschool through elementary-aged kids has been extremely popular, with the library offering a staggering three sessions per week thanks to Bridget Epiphanie of Once Upon A Time Yoga Adventures. Multiple paint programs every single month fill up within moments of registration being opened, sometimes as soon as 15 minutes before every slot is filled. The library offers technology education classes for senior citizens, keeping them informed and well-versed in the ever-evolving world of handheld devices. "We have really strong partnerships in the area, such as the Lake George Arts Project," Burrows said. "We host jazz around town, we host a monthly exhibit called "Project Local" where we feature different local artist in the library every two months." Current artist Ottavia Huang will be hosting a class on watercolor and ink, and Dan Berggren, the acclaimed Adirondack folk artist, will perform at the library on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. "We are part of the Knox Trail Library Passport Program going on right now, all the libraries that exist along where Henry Knox took his famous journey are part of the program, but we have taken it a step further and planned a program on his journey and curated a collection of books that are flying off the shelves," Burrows shared. The library has also partnered with the Lake George Youth Commission to provide a full roster of summer programming for local youngsters. This past summer, Jeff Bowyer's Big Bubble Bonanza saw 300 spectators in the high school auditorium for that as part of the library's big annual performance. Last year it was puppet people that entertained, and for this upcoming year the library is looking to partner with the Glens Falls Symphony for a children's program. The library also functions as a place of respite for locals and out-of-towners alike. "A third of people that came through our doors over the summer months were visitors," Burrows said. "People use the library for meetings, to do work, to get out of the heat, and to entertain their children for a while." According to Burrows, many people also visit the library to take advantage of the complimentary Wi-fi, which is available 24 hours a day in and outside of the building. Whether enjoying use from the parking lot or a memorial bench in the fresh air or inside the cozy arms of the building, people are able to stay connected thanks to Caldwell-Lake George. Printing and copying and faxing services are also huge. "The books are first and foremost," Burrows said. "Providing a collection that is both new and engaging is the most important thing we do, all the other stuff is secondary, but we are managing to hit all the marks. We are making sure we have relevant and engaging content, great programming, and a welcoming environment, which is what I really stress with my staff. We want every person who walks in to feel like we are here just for them. That was the culture we have been hoping to build and I think we have done that successfully." Those who would like to make a monetary donation to Caldwell-Lake George Library are encouraged to send a check earmarked for "Donation" to Caldwell-Lake George Library at 336 Canada Street, Lake George, NY 12845. Please visit lakegeorgelibrary.sals.edu for updates and a complete calendar of upcoming events. The library is available to follow on Facebook and Instagram.

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Caldwell-Lake George Library to make major renovations

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