By Cris Italia
With the tragedy of Sept. 11 contraction was halted and after other construction delays occurred the completion date was moved from Sept. 2001 to May.
There was really nothing we could do, said Island Park Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edward Price about speeding up the process. Since there isn't one general contractor, the electrician is always waiting for the plumber and so on.
The school district, which owns both the new and old library, have decided that on March 25 the old library will be closed to the public so the move can be made. Island Park residents will have to either go to neighboring libraries or take out books before the library closes.
"We are encouraging our patrons to take out their books prior to our moving date, and we will forgive the fines since we will be in the process of moving, said Marie Nannarone, the library's acting director.
The close was anticipated from the outset, Price said. There has to be a little discomfort here, if this [move] is going to happen.
Opening a new library is a major overhaul and the transition will take some time, Price added. Currently the library carries anywhere from 65,000 to 75,000 volumes, a number that will increase by about 30 percent at the new facility.
We have to make sure that all the little problems are taken care of. We don't want a situation where it is half-thawed out, Price said. In the end ,all of it will be worth it. This library will have everything.
According to Thomas McCreight, president of the Library Board of Trustees, the new building will house 13,500 square feet. The size of the building is larger, in part, because of the regulations it has to meet for the Americans with Disabilities Act, McCreight said. The old library is just 5,500 square feet, a sizable difference.
There are no plans for the old site, but a committee has been formed to determine what use the building can be put to.
We have to weigh some of the options, but we want something that will certainly serve the needs of the community, Price said. The committee is made up of members of the real estate community in Island Park.
with Joseph Kellard
