By:Leslie Gonzalez
Full services sought for S. Lynbrook, Hewlett
The State Legislature has passed a bill to create a library district for residents in South Lynbrook and portions of Hewlett who are not currently served by a local library.
The Town of Hempstead would operate the new South Lynbrook/Hewlett Library District, which would provide full library services to the 2,000 residents who live in the unincorporated sections of Lynbrook and the Hewlett-Woodmere School District and currently don't qualify for neighborhood library services.
The town will negotiate with the Village of Lynbrook so district residents would have full access to the Lynbrook Public Library as a matter of right through property taxes they would pay to the town for the new library funding district.
"In this day and age, and in a community like ours, no resident should be denied access to a local library," said Richard Guardino, Hempstead Town Supervisor. "Not only does having a local library enhance educational opportunities for young and old alike, it also adds to the value of our homes and the general quality of life enjoyed in our community."
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Dean Skelos and Assemblymen Bob Barra and Harvey Weisenberg, was submitted in April by the town and passed this month. It is expected to be signed by Gov. George Pataki within the next few weeks.
"At that point, the Town of Hempstead will schedule a referendum that will give the voters the final say in bringing this library district into existence," Guardino said.
A positive vote this summer will bring library service to area residents beginning next January, he said.
The town will distribute the information district residents will need to make an informed choice before they vote, according to Town Councilman Anthony Santino.
Santino said the town contacted the village about the new district and hopes to begin negotiations next week to discuss the tax support needed to provide the library.
He predicted that the tax would be close to the county-wide average local public tax support for library services. According to Jackie Thresher, director of Nassau Library System, the average tax from the 2000 report is $75.24.
The bill coincides with a three-year effort initiated by the Nassau Library System to help untaxed areas secure full public library services if they are willing to tax themselves. Untaxed areas will be given until Dec. 31, 2002 to make that decision.
According to Thresher, as municipalities and school districts chartered their own libraries over the years, pocket areas developed where Nassau County residents do not pay library taxes, such as in Lynbrook.
"Part of the problem is that unincorporated areas lack the ability to tax themselves," Thresher said.
A $30,000 contract initiated in 1998 with the East Rockaway Public Library has successfully provided library service to about 2,300 residents of Bay Park since January 2000, according to Ellen Rockmuller of the East Rockaway Public Library.
Until last year, families who lived in the unincorporated parts of Lynbrook and were outside of the Hewlett-Woodmere School District lines had to purchase household library cards for about $150, said Natalie Lapp, Lynbrook Public Library director.
In January 2000, the State Board of Regents prohibited the sale of such cards. Instead, New York State Mandated Access Cards were made available, at no charge, to Nassau residents who are at least five years of age or enrolled in kindergarten, and non-delinquent in any Nassau County public library.
These cards offered only a partial solution. To receive an access card, unincorporated Nassau residents must apply at either the East Meadow or Levittown Public Library. The cards must be renewed annually and inter-library loans may only be taken from Levittown. Library privileges are often restricted at the discretion of each location and, in places where more than 5 percent of services are used by non-residents, a library may be exempt from honoring the cards altogether.
Such is the case at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, where access card holders may borrow only print music.
"At over 17 percent, we had the highest non-resident lending rate in Nassau County. It was a decision our board had to make," said library director Susan de Sciora.
At Lynbrook Library, cardholders are entitled to all services, but cannot rent audio-visual materials less than one year old.
If the state proposal is voted down, Thresher said the Nassau Library System may apply for a waiver to cease offering access cards to area residents.
"The cards are only a temporary measure until these areas decide what they want. Most people want library service for their community and their children," she said.
The Nassau Library System is currently approaching untaxed areas where public demand for library services has been greatest. Talks of developing a similar library system for portions of Malverne's and East Rockaway's unincorporated sections are still in the preliminary stages.
