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East 96th Street Library Reopens After Eight Months of Renovations

By Victoria Bekiempis | September 14, 2013 10:29am
 The branch reopened the week of Sept. 9 2013, after eight months of renovations.
The branch reopened the week of Sept. 9 2013, after eight months of renovations.
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DNAinfo/Victoria Bekiempis

UPPER EAST SIDE — The 96th Street Library reopened this week on the Upper East Side after construction delays prolonged its closure from a projected six months to a total of eight months.

The branch, located at 112 E. 96th St. at Lexington Avenue, was originally scheduled to be closed from January to July 2013.

The Department of Design and Construction, which completed the renovations, said the scheduling setback was related to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) work.

"Delays in installing the building’s new HVAC system set back the project several weeks," DDC Spokesman Joseph Soldevere wrote in an e-mail to DNAinfo.com New York.

"Fortunately, the new heating and cooling units have now been installed, along with a new boiler, roof, and fire alarm and sprinkler systems."

The upgrades include new air conditioning units, hot water pumps, pipes, a web-based temperature system, fire prevention units and sprinklers.

Branch manager William J. Seufert wrote in an e-mail to DNAinfo.com New York that he's excited about the changes.

"All of us here at the library are thrilled to welcome our patrons back to the 96th Street Library and we are grateful for their ongoing support and enthusiasm for the branch," Seufert said.

"The new upgrades made to the building will serve the community more effectively and offer our users a more comfortable space to enjoy the library's many resources and services."

The East 96th Street library served 210,000 visitors in 2012.