Cairo Library Plans Possible Expansion

CAIRO —The Cairo Public Library may soon be rolling beyond its walls—literally.

Library Director Corinne Tatavitto has advanced to the final round of the Accessible Small and Rural Communities Grant, a competitive funding opportunity aimed at improving access to library services in rural areas serving populations under 10,000. For Cairo, which currently serves approximately 6,000 residents, the grant could mark a transformative expansion into neighboring Durham.

Tatavitto submitted the grant application in November, and the library is now in Round Four—the final stage of the selection process. A decision is expected as early as March 19, with final notifications no later than March 31.

If awarded, one grant would provide $20,000, designated for the purchase of a large vehicle—potentially a repurposed school bus—along with books and library materials. Additional grants totaling $10,000 would allow the library flexibility in deciding whether to further invest in a vehicle, materials, or a combination of both.

The idea for the expansion emerged following the closure of Durham’s reading room in 2023, which left residents without easy access to library resources. Since then, Cairo Public Library staff and partners have been exploring creative solutions to bridge that gap.

One such solution is a bookmobile-style service that would bring books, materials, and library programming directly into Durham. The proposed vehicle could park in high-traffic community locations such as the Cairo-Durham High School parking lot during dismissal or along the milk run, maximizing visibility and foot traffic.

Adrian Pierce, Ambassador for the Mid-Hudson Library System, has been working alongside the Cairo Public Library on the expansion and emphasized the importance of accessibility in rural communities.

“Acknowledging the large, spread-out area the Cairo Public Library serves, we seek to address any accessibility issues that might exist in terms of our library collections,” Pierce said. “A bookmobile or some variant thereof seemed to be something that has worked at a couple of other libraries, so we started looking into that as a possibility and have applied for a grant that will help to offset expenses.”

Tatavitto also highlighted the shared relationship between Cairo and Durham, noting that Durham residents already support the library through school taxes.

“The Town of Durham provides funding for this library through school taxes, and we feel that they should be able to utilize our resources more,” Tatavitto said.

The Accessible Small and Rural Communities Grant is specifically designed to support innovative approaches to library service in geographically dispersed areas—making Cairo’s proposal a strong match for the program’s mission.

Should the grant be approved, the Cairo Public Library would not only expand its physical reach but also reaffirm its role as a community anchor—meeting residents where they are and ensuring that access to knowledge, literacy, and shared space doesn’t end at town lines.

For now, the community waits—hopeful that by the end of March, a library on wheels may soon be heading down the road to Durham.