By Andrew Hackmack
This service is the result of public votes bringing North Valley Stream and East Franklin Square into the Elmont Library District.
Sheila Seward, an administrative assistant with the Elmont Library, explained that there are library districts in each North Valley Stream and East Franklin Square. There just isn't any actual physical facility.
"They never really had a library home," she said.
Seward explained that the Town of Hempstead allows unserved library districts to contract with other districts that do have a library. East Franklin Square joined Elmont in January 2005 and North Valley Stream voters followed suit within the last year.
Four Valley Stream schools lie within these two districts and those teachers now have access to the Elmont Library. The schools are Willow Road, Howell Road and James A. Dever in District 13, and North High School in the Central High School District.
Seward explained that even though these teachers might not live in the community, it makes sense to give them access to the same resources their students have. "As a courtesy it is part of our policy," she said.
Those who are not patrons can't check out new materials or DVDs, and often can't take advantage of many of the programs. This give the teachers in those four schools access to all of these resources. Seward said many of these items are useful for educators.
The Elmont Library opened its new 57,000 square foot facility in September 2006 on Hempstead Turnpike. She said the reference department and children's room are twice the size than in the old building and there is also a new young adult reading section.
Seward explained that when the North Valley Stream library district's contract was up last year, they heavily marketed these new services to those residents. North Valley Stream, which now has a four-year contract with Elmont, was previously served by the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library in the Village of Valley Stream.
Dever Elementary School Principal Darren Gruen recently met with his teachers to tell them about this new opportunity. He said teachers acquire their instructional resources through many means, so they are excited to add to that the Elmont Library.
"Everybody was very appreciative," Gruen said. "We'll look to take advantage of this opportunity."
Gruen said the teachers see it as a great gesture that they are welcomed into a facility in the community where they work.
Seward said teachers interested in joining the Elmont Library should stop in to fill out an application and must provide documentation showing they work in one of those four schools. She hopes they choose to become one of the nearly 70,000 patrons who now belong.
"We would love to have them come in and use our facility," she said.
