Peninsula Public Library in Lawrence board reorganizes and welcomes new director

At Peninsula Public Library’s July 19 Board of Trustees meeting, the board welcomed Karen Porcella as the Lawrence library’s new director and Trustee Sarah Yastrab was sworn in for her first five-year term.

Porcella, “New library leader comes from within” July 5-11, was formerly PPL’s assistant director. The Lawrence resident has been at PPL since 2007. Before that she worked at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library from 1985 to 2007.

Yastrab a Woodmere resident won election to the board last year to fill the remaining year of the unexpired term of Trustee Eva Marie Doran. Yastrab defeated Patricia Pope in 2011. This year, Yastrab ran unopposed.

The board was reorganized for 2012-13 and Joan Lepelstat who had previously served, as vice president is now president. Yastrab is the vice president, Joseph L. Fuller will serve as the board’s secretary and Jeffrey Leb is the treasurer. Past year’s president Joel Schiff remains on the board.

At the meeting, the trustees announced that the library had received $10,000 in “bullet aid” from State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre). Bullet aid is legislative discretionary funds that specifically for libraries or school district.

“We have seen tremendous increases in the usage of our library during these difficult economic times,” Porcella said. “With this generous grant we will be able to upgrade our technology and continue to provide the excellent level of service that out community has come to expect.”

Skelos also provided $10,000 to the H-W library to buy scanning equipment for books and documents, a display case for archival materials and the supplies need for the preservation of vital documents throughout the facility.

“The Hewlett-Woodmere Library is grateful for the senator’s successful efforts in securing funding for a project which will greatly help us to make them more available to the community,” said Library Director Susan de Sciora.