By Nicole Falco
"What we really wanted to do was get the families here so they could get their library cards . . . get to know the library in a fun way," said Julie Olson, a Mill Brook resident and an instrumental voice in restoring library service. "Some of them had never been here before."
Olson and her family were among the very first residents to sign up for a library card. "I came here on Jan. 2," Olson said. "I said to myself, There is no way I'm not going to get there. I don't know if we were first, but we got here."
To date, approximately 300 Mill Brook residents have signed up for library cards, according to Marshall Botwinick, the library's director. Botwinick said there are still approximately 4,500 residents without cards, but then, they've only been available for a month.
Botwinick told the gathered families, "We're glad you're here. It is now your library as well as ours, and I hope you use it not just tonight but every night."
On Sept. 12, Mill Brook residents voted, 457 to 40, to establish a special library district and budget. The vote authorized the Town of Hempstead to enter into a three-year contract with a local library -- the Valley Stream library was chosen -- to provide full library service to Mill Brook and South Valley Stream.
The need for a special district surfaced in 2000 following a New York State Board of Regents ruling that in effect prohibited the sale of library cards. Residents of Mill Brook and 40,000 others like them in Nassau County, who had previously purchased library cards annually, were left without library service because they didn't live in an area that was taxed by a local library district. While working toward self-taxation, those without libraries were issued state-mandated access cards that allowed only limited service.
According to Robert Johnson, a New York State Regent who attended the community night, having to buy a library card left those families without money to do without library service. "We had the haves and have-nots, and that's simply unacceptable," Johnson said.
Though the ruling was met with disapproval throughout the state at first, on Long Island alone six new or special library districts have been established thanks to activists like Olson, members of the Mill Brook Civic Association, Nassau Library System representatives and politicians, including Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Assemb. Bob Barra and town Councilman James Darcy in Valley Stream.
The community night, sponsored by the Forest Road Parents as Reading Partners 2003, was attended by dozens of families as well as representatives of School District 30 -- Forest Road School students were affected -- and the library board.
Olson and Linda Kettering, Forest Road PTA co-president, opened the evening with a song, "Mill Brook has its Own Library," with lyrics by Kettering.
Those who were invited to speak during the short presentation all echoed the importance of having library access. "Number one, it is a great thing to have access to the library," said Lawrence McGoldrick, District 30 superintendent of schools. "The responsibility is now ours to make sure we use it. I know for a fact just how much children at Clear Stream Avenue and Shaw Avenue [schools] use the library, and I hope your children do the same."
Olson was given a certificate of recognition from Darcy's office for her efforts, which began almost immediately after the Regents' ruling was announced.
Afterward, families participated in a treasure hunt and story time with children's librarian Linda Eagan and Mill Brook resident and "One Life to Live" star Steve Harris, who attended the community night with his wife, Jennifer, and their two daughters. "I couldn't believe it . . . it was surprising," Harris said. "I thought everyone had access to a library."
The rest of the community shared similar thoughts. "It wasn't a pleasant experience not having a library," said Michael Van Sertima, parent of two elementary-age daughters. "My kids love to read. We think it's a great thing to finally have a library card. We'll probably be here once a week."
Theodora Egbuchulam has lived close to the library for eight years and she and her sons came immediately to apply for a library card. "We were able to read the books here but not take them out," Egbuchulam said. "It's a great community, but that was the only thing lacking. Now we can make use of this place and actually take out books."
The family carried out armfuls of books from the library as soon as they were able.
For information on applying for a library card, call the library at 825-6422. It is located at 60 Verona Place, behind Village Hall.
Residents of North Valley Stream, who are also not served by a library district, are expected to have the opportunity to vote for their own special library district and budget this fall. A meeting is scheduled for Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Willow Road School.
