Local leaders and community members are pushing to bring a new branch of the Ferguson Library to Stamford's East End, renovating a building in Courtland Park where the city currently makes its road and street signs.

"This feeds your mind, and that feeds your spirit," said Maureen Pollack, Stamford Board of Representatives deputy majority leader, pointing to both the building and the playground right across from it. "The synergy between actually having a park and a library is something most cities should strive for."

The Ferguson Library currently operates a main branch downtown, as well as branches in the South End, West Side and two in North Stamford, but nothing on the East End.

"Our community deserves to have beautiful things," said Bianca Shinn, an East Side resident and educator. "The East Side, I feel, is a community that's always forgotten about in some ways; it's a growing, robust community."

Both library officials and Pollack say that over the last few years, they have seen a growing need for a permanent branch, based on the response to pop-up mobile library events and public demand.

"It's essential, and it's about equality, education, free books," Pollack said.

"Especially young students — it could be a center of community," agreed Shinn.

In 2022, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes secured $3 million in federal funds earmarked for the city to renovate the building into a library.

However, Pollack says to get the money, the city needs to first allocate $350,000 of its own funds for planning and design, something it has not done yet.

"$350,000 is not a short-term investment in our East Side community; it is a long-term investment," said Shinn.

Pollack said the hold-up was about more than just money but added, "Whatever the issues are, if there's concern (the building) is going to expand and take over the park, that actually could be addressed in the next stage," noting that there are checks and balances on everything.