The proposed library budget for 2001/2002 will be submitted to the voters of the Levittown Union Free School District in the library on Thursday, April 5.

You are eligible to vote if you are registered for school district votes or the general elections. For information on absentee ballots contact the district clerk, Levittown Memorial Education Center, 520-8300, extension 550 or 608.

One library trustee will be elected for a five-year term ending June 30, 2006. The incumbent, Denward W. Collins, Jr., Dennis Conway and Benjamin Slutsky are candidates for the position.

The library board is committed to continuation of current hours and all current services with a minimum increase in cost. The proposed budget would result in a blended tax rate of $4.087 per hundred dollars of assessed valuation. This would represent an increase of 19 cents per hundred, or $9.50 per year for the owner of a house assessed at the district average of $5,000.

The library is in the final year of a three-year contract with CSEA. Negotiations are in process for a new contract beginning July 1. Last year's budget included partial funding for an elevator. Preliminary plans for this project have been approved by the New York State Education Department. The proposed budget provides additional funds necessary for the elevator project and provides for renovation of the entrance lobby and the circulation desk area.

Your library currently provides:

* 68 hours of service per week with 4 additional hours on Sunday from October - May.

* 243,046 books - 8,321 compact discs - 660 periodicals - 9,965 videocassettes.

* Access to online indexes, databases and periodicals - Internet Access.

* Information and reference services - Interlibrary loan - Programs for all ages.

* Community information and referral - Storyhours and class visits for children.

* Delivery to homebound patrons.

* Services for senior citizens - copy machines - meeting rooms for community use.

Library users borrowed 388,166 items during the last fiscal year. One hundred twenty thousand, six hundred eighty-four of these were material for children. Two thousand, one hundred fifty-two items were borrowed on interlibrary loan from other libraries for Levittown residents.

The proposed budget would result in an average cost of $17.03 per month per household for library service.

The Board of Library Trustees and the library staff are dedicated to providing you and your family with high quality library service. We urge you to vote on April 5.

Board of Library Trustees

Denward W. Collins, Jr., Dr. Jacklyn Nogan

Dr. Vladimir Rus, Margaret Santer

Judge David Schechter, President