By Peter Sorkin
Several libraries in western Queens have been awarded funds to improve their facilities during the fiscal year 2001 budget negotiations.
City Councilman Walter McCaffrey (D-Woodside) in conjunction with Speaker Peter Vallone (D-Astoria) allocated about $2.3 million toward the construction of a new Long Island City branch library.
The state-of-the-art building will replace the current library in the Ravenswood Houses which is too small. The new building will be a 18,000-square-foot facility, said Gary Strong, director of the Queens Borough Public Library.
Strong said the money will be put to good use in Long Island City because it will help replace two antiquated libraries.
