When Bertelsmann AG and Time, Inc., two multimedia giants, combined forces to form the largest book club marketer in America, Bookspan was born. The multi-billion-dollar media conglomerate will create 450 additional jobs at its Franklin Avenue location, book club headquarters - nearly doubling the headquarters' workforce to 900 employees.

Governor George Pataki visited the site last Wednesday afternoon to help Bookspan and Bertelsmann mediaSystems (BmS) executives inaugurate the first phase of the completion of the additional 135,000 square feet of space to the firm's existing facility. The governor thinks the $45 million expansion will "strengthen Long Island's economy and produce hundreds of new jobs for Nassau County residents."

The building, located at 501 Franklin Avenue, has been a village landmark since 1910 when Theodore Roosevelt first laid its cornerstone. It was originally the home of Doubleday and a fitting homage to England's Hampton Court. Part of the investment by Bertelsmann and Bookspan has been allocated for the preservation and restoration of the building.

Doubleday was later sold to Bertelsmann AG, a privately held international media company, in 1986. Approximately one year later, Bertelsmann declared the Garden City location book club headquarters.

Back in October, William Gatti, Bookspan's senior vice president of Human Resources and Administration, spoke at the Garden City Chamber of Commerce's kick-off luncheon, saying, "The '90s proved a time of change, with the company reducing its population in Garden City, outsourcing its labor to other places around the country by about 400 employees and making some real estate changes."

In March 2000, "Book of the Month Club," then owned by Time Warner, which later became known as AOL Time Warner, and Bertelsmann AG formed a partnership. The two multimedia giants combined forces to form the biggest book club marketer in America. The merger practically doubled the size of business, captured almost 90 percent of the book market overnight and changed its name to Bookspan, which soon became a common household name.

AOL Time Warner's Book of the Month Club's union with Bertelsmann's Doubleday Direct formed Bookspan and operates 48 interest and specialty book clubs; clubs that attracted close to 10 million members.

"With the national economic downturn presenting major challenges across the country, the decision by Bookspan and Bertelsmann to invest here on Long Island represents a tremendous vote of confidence in the future of New York State," Governor Pataki said.

The village headquarters include Bookspan's executive, marketing and administrative operations and the BmS data center, a subsidiary that operates Bookspan's computer systems while providing computer services to other companies as well.

Bookspan's CEO, Markus Wilhelm, said, "We are very excited about expanding our long term local presence and relationship with Garden City, a relationship that began at the turn of the last century. We are not only bringing new professional jobs to Nassau County, but we have created huge opportunities for local construction trades. Bookspan is proud to restore the facility at 501 Franklin Avenue, a structure steeped in local history. Bookspan takes great pride in supporting this community during this challenging time."

As he thanked the governor for improving the business climate, Senator Kemp Hannon also applauded Bertelsmann's commitment to an innovative refurbishing of an historic structure. "Long Island will have a new landmark and another business presence of a nationwide company."

Back in 1987, Gatti said he was part of a group of people who wondered whether or not the company should move from Long Island. "It was a very difficult decision to make because we had such great success here, a great history here. As it turned out, we decided to stay."

Ross Mongiardo, chamber of commerce president, said, "We're thrilled Bookspan is adding hundreds of new professional jobs at their Garden City campus. We realize they had other options and we'd like to think that this sends a strong, positive message about the Garden City business direct and its revitalization. Garden City gives them the ability to attract the quality labor pool required to run their business. To say that Bookspan has deep roots in Garden City would be an understatement. They've been here for a hundred years or so and we look forward to them being here 100 more."

The vast acreage will have parking spaces for more than 1,000 cars, with a pedestrian bridge linking the two buildings, both of which are located at 401 and 501 Franklin Avenue. Both buildings provide approximately 250,000 square feet for Bookspan operations. The "resurrected" building is expected to be completed this spring, or possibly sooner. "This building was a model of the 1910 Hampton Court, a mansion in England. Garden City was very focused on the fact that Doubleday originally wanted to use the space as a printing plant among the lawns and boulevards of the first planned town in America," Gatti said.

While preserving the architectural integrity of the building, Gatti said Bookspan would continue on as the village's "southern anchor."

Assemblywoman Maureen O'Connell said the expansion will not only benefit Nassau County but New York State as well. "As a worldwide high-tech industry ... this will be a great chance to overcome the economic downturn that is challenging our state at the present time."

Chris Dressler, BmS vice president for North America, said BmS is excited to partner with Bookspan and continue the North American expansion. "We are faced with many geographical choices but chose New York and Nassau County to build our state-of-the-art data center supporting Bertelsmann companies around the world and outside clients' information technology needs," he said.

"Our investment in a high-tech professional workforce will be a positive contribution to New York and Nassau County and will support the efforts of the governor's commitment to a strong economic growth in the Empire State."

In 1995, the governor confronted the economic and financial crisis he inherited and overcame it, Charles Gargano, Empire State Development chairman, said. "Through cutting taxes every year, reducing the size of government, controlling spending and eliminating regulations, the governor created jobs. Under his leadership, Long Island and New York's economy will once again thrive thanks to the dedication of companies such as Bookspan and Bertelsmann mediaSystems."

Among the many local officials on hand for the ceremony was Town of Hempstead Supervisor Rich Guardino. "This expansion is a great benefit, specifically to the Town of Hempstead because it creates hundreds of jobs in our township. The town has a variety of programs to attract new business to our area. Facilitating business expansion and creating jobs is helping to maintain our communities as great places to live, work and raise a family."

Newly elected Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi added, "Our goal is for everyone to know that Nassau County is the best county in the country. This kind of economic growth is very exhilarating for Nassau County and I look forward to a long and successful relationship with Bookspan."