You can bookmark Aug. 21 as a special day for Mosholu Library, which received a novel $15,000 in state funds.

“Our libraries are community hubs and places of resources and comfort,” said Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, said at a news conference at the library on Aug. 21, “we can all relate in our passion for reading and looking for education, and really finding an escape.”

The source of the newly distributed funds comes from discretionary funding of $60,000. The funds were evenly distributed to Allerton, Pelham Parkway-Van Nost and Morris Park libraries.

Jane Addison-Amoyaw has managed the Mosholu library for the past fifteen years. This is the first grant that the library has received during her tenure and Addison-Amoya notes that the investment means a “great deal” to her as it will support “educational programs.”

Community Board 7 Chairperson Jean Hill was expressive in her approval of the financial support for the library, “Reading really is fundamental. There’s such a large world in books that you don’t necessarily get exposed to in your daily life. You can visit the planet just by walking into the library.”

Assemblywoman Fernandez hopes the funds provided for the library will be spent by the end of the year.  

About $1.25 million remains in the discretionary budget, specifically for capital requests. Potential projects have yet to be confirmed.  

A library patron and retired community resident who only went by Zack said he “picked up a new life with computer technology field. I pass the time of day in here.” That time includes reading newspapers, participating in coloring and computer classes, as well as, arts and crafts.

Located on 205th street and Perry Avenue, the library is next to Whalen Park, which was recently reopened after undergoing a yearlong $1.8 million reconstruction project.

A specific budget allocation for how the $15,000 will be used has yet to be determined.