On Dec. 4, residents living within the boundaries of the North Shore School District, except those living in Sea Cliff, went to the polls at the Glen Head Community Center and voted overwhelmingly, (1,399 in favor, 315 against), to establish a library district. They also approved the district's $800,000 budget. Of the 12 people seeking a position on the nine member library board of trustees, the successful candidates are: Patricia Daley, (1,131 votes); Steven Muth, (1,022 votes); Amy Kempton, (1,005 votes); Rosemarie Ryba, (1,000 votes); Barbara Palermo, (962 votes); Patrice Benneward, (961 votes); Kevin Glassman, (947 votes); Nancy Benchimol, (915 votes) and Miles Sibell with 906 votes. The vote tally on the library's proposed budget is 1,363 in favor and 292 voting nay.

The vote and results are the successful end of a long, persistent effort launched 40 years ago; rejuvenated in the last five years by the North Shore Citizens Committee for Library Services. The committee, Marilyn Genoa, Fran Sciarrino, Amy Kempton, Rhonda Veros, Rosemarie Ryba and Miles Sibell, enlisted the support of the community, Town of Oyster Bay elected officials and State Senator Carl Marcellino and Assemblyman David Sidikman. Sen. Marcellino and Assemblyman Sidikman sponsored the enabling legislation to pave the way for the Dec. 4 vote. The committee was formed to obtain library services for the unserved population living within the North Shore School District boundaries who, pursuant to recent legislation from the state board of regents, can no longer purchase a library card for access to those services.

Just before 9 a. m. on Election Day, Miles Sibell was out and about stapling up "Vote Today" signs to ensure that as many people as possible knew that there was voting going on. Inside the Community Center, 25 people were lined up waiting for the polls to open. A full representation of the community's demographics waited to cast their ballot on either of four voting machines that were broken into alphabetical groupings.

When reached for comment on voter approval for the creation of the Gold Coast Library District, Mr. Sibell said, "The voters have said 'get library service for this community.'" In fact, the library board of trustees is already planning their first meeting.