By Laura Lane
The majority of North Merrick residents - about 14,000 people - didn't vote in either of the two recent library elections. Yet, many believe the community is passionate about the North Merrick Library - either wishing for its closure or rallying to save it.
"The library is a really touchy situation in the community right now," said resident Lynn Kavanagh. "There's a divide between the older members of the community and the younger."
Kavanagh said younger residents use the Internet for information, and so they see less of a need for a library. The talk around town - at least among many parents with young children - "is to turn the library into an administrative school building," she said.
John Pinto, president of the North Merrick Board of Education, agreed with Kavanagh, though he said the board had not yet officially discussed the matter. "There's been talk to see the building go back into the school district's hands for education," said Pinto.
Classroom overcrowding, the board president said, is increasingly becoming a concern. "The class sizes are making parents uncomfortable. Being in a class with over 25 children puts a strain on teaching," he said.
Old Mill Road PTA President Anne Ruvolo said many people are discussing turning the library into a school to alleviate overcrowding at Fayette Elementary School, where the North Merrick School District administrative offices are also located. "The administration can come out of Fayette, and they can move into part of the library, and the rest of the library can become a K-1 or K-2 school," said Ruvolo. "Fayette is getting very crowded, Camp Avenue is over the top, and Old Mill Road is filled."
Beebe Bullenkamp, an ardent library supporter, believes overcrowding at Fayette could be solved without turning over the library. "Old Mill Road and Chatterton were extended; they can add onto Fayette, too," said Bullenkamp. "The problem of overcrowding was projected a long time ago when the district decided to lease the Brookside School. Having a library is very important for our community."
Bullenkamp moved to North Merrick in 1961. She's seen the community change. "Within the last five years, the community has become young. I think the tight budget votes reflect the stresses on these young families, not just with taxes, but also with both parents working," said Bullenkamp. "They don't have time yet to appreciate the library and don't realize the value of the library and the services because their children are young."
Some residents, like Gina McGovern, disagree. McGovern, who is a teacher, said her children used the library when they were in elementary school, but now they're in middle school, and they often can't find the information or materials they need there. "The library is convenient, but for what? It never seems to have what I'm looking for," said McGovern. "And my children do participate in the summer reading program, but that's a New York state library program."
Tina Meaney values the library. She said her son, who will begin college in the fall, used the library for school research along with his computer at home. She has also taken many classes there and attended library bus trips. "The library provides great services for the community," said Meaney. "And this library is in a perfect location, and so many people use it. It would be awful if it closed."
Ruvolo believes seeing the new Merrick Library going up just south of Sunrise Highway has led many North Merrick residents to wonder why they need their own public library. "I don't think all of this would have happened if the library wasn't being built on Sunrise Highway," said Ruvolo. "As the building is getting bigger, people are thinking, Why do we need two libraries? The new Merrick library is like the Hilton versus the Days Inn."
North Merrick residents will be able to take out books at the Merrick Library when it opens - likely in the fall - but they won't enjoy other privileges. "North Merrick residents will only be able to participate in our programs after Merrick residents have registered, which includes our story-time, and they won't be able to reserve books. That has to be done at your home library," said Ellen Firer, the Merrick Library director. "Many programs close after Merrick Library residents register."
And closing the North Merrick Library and turning the Merrick Library into a joint community institution would be involved. "The two library districts would have to agree to this, and the North Merrick Library would have to decide to give up their charter," said Jackie Thresher, Nassau Library Systems spokeswoman. "It would then have to go through the state Education Department to make the change, and we'd get involved too."
Thresher said the issue is complex. "What would it really cost? People think I can give the amount of money I'm paying now to the library, and that will be enough," she said. "That's not necessarily true."
Firer said there would have to be changes at the Merrick Library as well, if North Merrick residents were permitted to use the library as a home base. "We'd have to have some kind of a tax levy," said Firer. "We wouldn't have the staff to meet the demand."
Walter Mintz, president of the Merrick Library Board, said construction plans for the new library didn't factor in the Merrick and North Merrick communities - only Merrick. "The building is being put up to meet the needs of the Merrick population. I wouldn't be opposed to considering [a Merrick-North Merrick merger], but I can see there would be problems," said Mintz. "Parking would be one issue."
Bullenkamp said increased travel to the Merrick Library might discourage young North Merrick families from using it. "Time is such an enormous factor for young families," said Bullenkamp. "Why transport your child when you can get your resource materials right here?"
Forty-year North Merrick resident Mary Gilmore worries about Sunrise Highway. "Crossing Sunrise Highway is treacherous, and the children would have to cross that street too. It's too dangerous," said Gilmore. "I think comparing the two libraries is like apples and oranges. Our library is cozy. It's important to the neighborhood."
Comments? Llane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
