Mill Brook Library vote Monday

Without a library to call their own, South Valley Stream residents have been using the village’s Henry Waldinger Memorial Library for the past eight years. On Monday, they can choose to renew the contract for another five.

The Waldinger Library will be only choice on the ballot for residents of the Mill Brook Library District, which runs from the Green Acres Mall to Rosedale Road, west of Mill Road. In 2002, a state law established the district so citizens in South Valley Stream — which includes Mill Brook and the neighborhood surrounding South High School — could have access to a library.

Voters there chose the Waldinger Library in 2002, and again in 2005. The current contract expires on Dec. 31, and state law requires a special vote to renew it. The contract for 2011 for the Mill Brook Library District would be $173,320. The library would receive $169,320 — which is based on a cost of $40 per person — and the Town of Hempstead would get $4,000 for election expenses. The amount of the contract can increased each year based on cost of living.

Director Mamie Eng said that the Waldinger Library is the perfect fit for the residents of South Valley Stream. “It’s logical,” she said. “The kids go to our schools. They consider themselves Valley Streamers.”

Eng said that out of more than 4,200 potential patrons in that area, about 1,500 have become cardholders. That is more than one-third, she said, which is similar to amount of village residents who belong to library. “They’re definitely active users,” she said.

Marc Tenzer, president of the Mill Brook Civic Association, said he would encourage his neighbors to support the new five-year contract. “I want everybody to go out and vote,” he said. “It’s been a benefit and we don’t know what we did without it.”

Tenzer said that by belonging to the Waldinger Library, residents also have access to all other libraries in Nassau County.

Since the Mill Brook Library District came on board, Eng said library officials have made a concerted effort to add more services, “so the Mill Brook people would feel they’re getting a value for their money.” Among items added have been online tutoring, a museum pass program and downloadable eBooks. Eng said because of the large senior citizen population in the area, she said the library also doubled the size of its large type collection.

The library has also grown its children’s room collection. After all, Eng noted, it was parents from Forest Road School that pushed hard for the creation of the library district so their kids would have a place to go for books.

Mill Brook resident Jim Lavery said access to the children’s room at the Waldinger Library has been a benefit for his son. The PTA leader said he remembers when his neighborhood couldn’t use the library, so he supports the upcoming vote to renew the contract. “It’s a way to get our library,” he said, “otherwise we’re not going to have one.”

Lavery noted that the Waldinger Library is also conveniently located for the residents of South Valley Stream.