Mam'k Library Receives Major Bequest From Burchell Estate

from the Mamaroneck Public Library

(September 11, 2008) Mamaroneck Public Library’s major renovation campaign received a significant boost of $755,000 from the estate of George and Margaret Burchell, longtime residents of the Town of Mamaroneck and avid library patrons.

The Honorable George D. Burchell, a former supervisor of the Town of Mamaroneck and a retired New York State Supreme Court judge, was frequently seen in the Mamaroneck Library. Lola Dudley, former Mamaroneck Public Library assistant director, remembered him using the library virtually every day after his retirement. “He was a charming man,” she said. “Mr. Burchell was a pleasure to work with and appreciated everything the library did for him.”

Judge Burchell also served as a county court judge and Mamaroneck Town justice. Margaret Burchell (also known as Peg) was an author and contributed to several local periodicals. The couple were longtime members of Winged Foot Golf Club and the Larchmont Yacht Club. Judge Burchell died at the age of 92 in June 2002, and his wife passed away in March 2005.

“We are so grateful to receive these much-needed funds,” said Library Board President Helen Rafferty. “This significant gift has pushed the total raised so far on our campaign to just over $5 million,” she noted.

The Mamaroneck Public Library is planning to break ground this fall to construct a new addition and completely renovate the existing structure to make it energy efficient and environmentally friendly. The new addition will house an expanded children’s room, a new teen area and a state-of-the-art media center. There will be a new children’s program room, expanded space for community meetings, study areas and computer labs, and a restored historic reading room. A small coffee bar with an adjacent outdoor terrace overlooking a “green roof” is also in the plans. (See: Proposal Unveiled for Doubling, Updating Mamaroneck Library.)

The Village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees unanimously approved to bond up to $15.5 million for the project. The Library is continuing its campaign to raise funds with a current goal of raising $6.5 million. Any additional funds raised will help to lower the amount the Village will need to finance.

“The Burchells’ generous contribution will enable generations of children, teens and seniors to enjoy and appreciate the newly expanded and improved library they have helped to build,” Ms. Rafferty said.

“We are embarking on this project because our current library cannot meet the ever-growing needs of our community,” said Library Director Susan Benton. “Circulation has increased over 40 percent in the past five years, and we are seeing more and more people using the library in many ways beyond just checking out materials,” she added.

“The library also needs to be brought up to current codes for handicapped access, safety and security,” said Ms. Benton. “Our building’s systems are outdated and at the end of their lifespan, but what’s worse is our library is in danger of losing its insurance coverage if these problems are not addressed,” she stated.

“We cannot express how happy we are when people like the Burchells demonstrate how important a library is to a community by making such a selfless, generous, lasting gift,” Benton added. “Hopefully they know we are sending them our thanks!”

[A similar bequest in 2006 from the Burchell estate helped kick off fundraising for the major renovation of the Larchmont Library Children's Room that is currently underway. See: Larchmont Library Children's Room Will Get Major Redo.]

For more information on the library renovation project and the building campaign visit the Library’s website: mamaronecklibrary.org or contact Library Board President Helen Rafferty at 914-980-2675 or email: hmrafferty@aol.com.

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