When Arlene Nevens leaves the position of library director in November, she will be leaving the only place she has ever worked, a rarity in today's world of hop-scotching from one company or organization to another. Thirty-three years ago she began filing cards in the card catalogue as a part-time job, fell in love with the ambiance and activity of the Great Neck Library and went to Queens College to become a librarian.

She was hired at the library in the reference department and began with responsibilities for the local history collection, was promoted to assistant head reference librarian and eventually head of the reference department. She became the interim library director when Christiana Salita resigned and in 2002 took on the full responsibilities of director although she never clamored for the position. Ms. Nevens knew that there would be rocky days ahead as the library board pushed for an expansion and renovation of the main building. She says, "I always questioned whether or not I could deal with the politics of the situation ... after all, I am a librarian. I decided to take the position and just deal with it in a straightforward way."

Ms. Nevens' contract calls for a four-month notice upon resignation or retirement; therefore, she will continue to work with the library board and said she does not consider it to be professionally ethical or wise to discuss her abrupt departure with the press at this time.

The Record reviewed the minutes of the last library board meeting held on June 27 (the special meeting of the board in July was cancelled due to lack of a quorum) to seek clues and while at the library this reporter was told by a reference librarian that the "staff members are devastated, but not surprised."

Library board members David Kahn, Marietta DiCamilla, Martin Sokol, Joyce Klein and Norman Rutta voted to insert the library board's personnel committee into the hiring of director, assistant director, business manager, department heads, including heads of Levels, computer network administration and all maintenance personnel.

The board also overturned the procedure to re-allocate line item changes in the budget from three times during the year to once a year.

The board did not rehire Marino as a consultant and project manager for the renovation/expansion project for the main library.

The board also turned down an initiative brought by Ms. Nevens to reach out to the community members to activate their library cards. The plan was to have library personnel set up registration at appropriate community pools on a one-time basis.

Mr. Rutta called for Ms. Nevens to write a correction in the next newsletter regarding an explanation of the recent vote to change voting requirements. He objected to the word "broadens" the requirements and wanted the word "eases" to be used instead.

Several board members from other boards in town with whom the Record spoke and who did not want to be named, have surmised that the majority of the library board members want to micro-manage the library and effectively stripped Ms. Nevens of her authority while leaving her with the same responsibilities. One said, "Who can blame her for leaving?"

Board President David Kahn gave the following statement to the Record: "The president and board of the Great Neck Library has accepted Arlene Nevens' retirement with great regret. She has done an outstanding job in her 33 years at the library, beginning with filing cards in the card catalogue and rising to the directorship. In that job, she not only handled the board with tact and knowledge but also dealt well with the staff, the public, and public officials. The board greatly appreciates all her efforts on behalf of the members of the Great Neck community, and wishes her well in her future endeavors."

Ms. Nevens said, "I want to thank the staff for their outstanding work at the library ... they made my job much easier because of their dedication. I also want to thank the members of the community who love the library and have been supportive of our services."

A special meeting of the board of trustees for the library will be held on Aug. 10.