By Angela Marshall
Library plans 18,000-foot expansion
After months of community input meetings, the Baldwin Public Library Board voted unanimously on Thursday, Oct. 26, to put an expansion bond up for public vote in January. Because it is a school-district library, the bond will have to be put up by the Baldwin Union Free School District.
Specific design and architectural plans for the 18,000-square-foot addition have been the subject of community meetings since June. And they are not finalized yet. Another meeting of the whole expansion committee, which was broken into subcommittees for more specific study, was to be scheduled for this month.
Last week, the board responded to subcommittee suggestions and incorporated many into the plans. One area still being examined is the roof line for the new addition and existing children's department. The architect, Raymond Beeler, designed a screen to cover air-conditioning and other roof-top equipment that includes an image of the current roof- line wave. Some residents, including Rolf Mahler, called instead for the creation of a facade directly mimicking the wave.
Mr. Mahler said he does not want the library to blend in with surrounding buildings. "I'm concerned about the library and it standing out," he said.
The board turned down a suggestion to build an employee parking lot and extend the project beyond the library's property line, because it would add a half-million dollars to the bond.
Along with the expansion, the board will reopen both Grand Avenue entrances to the library. Kevin Kaman, library board president, also revisited traffic and pedestrian concerns that some residents have with the reopening of the corner door on Grand and Prospect Street. The board has requested a traffic study of the area, which is being conducted by the Nassau County Police Department. In addition, the board has asked for extra traffic controls in the area, such as stop signs and pedestrian crosswalks.
Old-fashioned lamp posts, benches and sidewalk bricking are also planned. The current building's fieldstone-and-glass theme will be carried over to the expansion.
Baldwin historical images will also become part of the architecture. Mr. Beeler called the main entrance of the library a "potentially exciting area." Engraved in the glass will be such images as a Nunley's carousel horse, which was a major attraction in Baldwin for decades.
"Naturally, I'm very pleased that of all the recommendations made, that really only one was rejected," said Tom Ryley, chairman of the expansion committee. "You don't get a batting average like that every year."
Because its chairperson was ill, the technology committee will make its report at this month's meeting.
A look at the inside
Blueprints, available at the library, include a 180-seat community room, an enlargement of the children's area and a recreational reading area.
The reading area will have comfortable seating for adults.
A quiet area requested by the committees has not been designed because of the possibility of children becoming rowdy in the enclosed area.
Several amenities will be purchased to make the library friendly to the physically challenged. Some telephones, photo copiers and worktables will be made wheelchair acceptable. They will also provide at least on OPAC Computer, used to find books, with a touch screen instead of a keyboard in the children and adult section of the library. These items are limited because of their cost.
Visual alarms and a scrolling message board will be provided for the hearing impaired.
The children's addition will allow for the "looser" arrangement of books, learning toys and beanbags.
"This is an ongoing process," Mr. Kamen said. "Nothing is concrete except the amount of money that we will have to spend."
The bond will request resident permission to spend $5. 5 million. Mr. Kamen read from a list describing other library projects and what was spent. Bonds floated started at $2.2 million went to $12 million.
Library Director Barbara Hopkins and board members said they will be actively seeking grant money from local legislators. While Ms. Hopkin's said they have received several grants in the past, she said "Our need is greatest now."
