The Hicksville Public Library will hold its annual budget vote on Wednesday, April 5 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voter registration takes place on Wednesday, March 29 from 3 to 8 p.m. You are eligible to vote if you are a citizen of the United States, have lived in the district 30 days, and are 18 years of age or older. If you have voted in any election in the last four years, you do not have to register for the library budget vote. Also, the library board of trustees will conduct a budget hearing at their monthly meeting, Wednesday, March 22 at 8 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

The following is a message from Michael J. Galgano, president of the Hicksville Public Library's Board of Trustees:

Dear Neighbors:

On behalf of the board of trustees of the Hicksville Public Library, I am pleased to present the 2006-2007 Annual Budget. The board of trustees has devoted much time and energy to develop a budget that will allow us to continue to provide you with the quality programs and services you expect and to enhance our book, video, DVD and CD collections. During this past year, we completed the expansion of our parking, providing much-needed additional parking for our patrons. Construction on the new Computer Resource Center continues and we hope to open this facility in the near future. Once opened, this facility will provide the community with expanded computer resources and additional meeting rooms. Both of these projects were undertaken in an effort to better meet the needs of the community which is always uppermost in the minds of your library board of trustees.

As you may be aware, in July 2005, our longtime director, Celeste Watman, resigned from the Hicksville Public Library to become director of the Levittown Library. Following her resignation, the board of trustees began an intensive search for a new director. Our search successfully ended on Feb. 6 with the hiring of Carol Ahrens as director. Mrs. Ahrens comes to us with over 20 years experience as a library director, most recently as director of the Franklin Square Library. The board is confident that we have made an excellent choice and know that she will be an asset to our library and to the community.

So that we can continue to provide you, our patrons and neighbors, with the programs and services you expect, we are asking you to, once again, show your support by approving the proposed budget for 2006-2007 at an average increased rate of $8.96 per household per year. Please take time to vote on Wednesday, April 5 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. We are committed to serve all of our taxpayers, parents, children and seniors and it is our goal under this new budget to make you a satisfied patron. Any suggestions that you may have as to how the library can serve you better are always appreciated. Thank you for your past and continued support .

Michael J. Galgano