Last week, as I was in the magazine back-issue aisle of the Bryant Library, I came upon the May Rosie, Rosie O'Donnell's new venture. Intrigued, I scanned the contents and discovered and read an interview with a TV personality who described her recent bout with a cancer, which was quietly announcing itself with irksome symptoms. Doctors, and the tests that they ordered, indicated nothing wrong. Not satisfied, the patient persisted, and a further test revealed the insidious killer in an early stage.

I wanted to show this article to a family member. However, I found that my yellow "state-mandated" library card which permitted my borrowing books from any library, for the moment at least, would not permit me to borrow a magazine (or audio materials and videotapes which I already knew.) Xeroxing the many pages of the article was my only option.

I wonder how many people in the North Shore School District are aware of the fact that, after Dec. 31, 2002, our state mandated library cards will permanently expire, and none of us (except Sea Cliff residents) will be able to take out even a book from any library, anywhere. That is, unless we get together and support the creation of a library district, and vote for a budget to cover library expenses. A committee is working toward this end and they deserve our support.

If they are not successful, it would not be just families with children who will be loath to move into Glen Head, but also adults who are aware of the many services that a library provides, from audiovisual materials, such as videos, CDs and books-on-cassette to computer use, interlibrary loans and library programs.

To the people who say that they don't use the library and therefore won't support its creation in Glen Head, I would remind them that even if you think that indoor plumbing is a frivolous extravagance, people looking to buy a house, perhaps your house, may not. As homeowners, we don't want to live in one of the few districts in this state without a library.

I hope all residents will support the creation of a library district for Glen Head by becoming more informed and spreading the word.

Florence Hess