When we were expecting our first child, my husband and I began looking for a home to raise our child. We were not just looking for a house, but a community where our child could grow, learn, and thrive. We chose Manhasset. We felt that this town could provide our daughter with great neighborhoods, great schools, and great amenities. We were sorely disappointed the first time that we went to the Manhasset Public Library. All of our children need a library to enhance and enrich their education. They need a library that would be commensurate with the excellence of the Manhasset school system.

Our children need a better library. Manhasset parents feel strongly about their children's education, and they go to great effort to raise money on their behalf. The SCA Fair or the Tower Foundation Dinner Dance are prime examples of Manhasset parents uniting to help all our children. What about the library? We, as parents, should be willing to put our energy, time, and money into another important aspect of our children's development. I am willing to work for a new library and to pay for one.

Okay. I have written enough about children. What about us? As avid readers, my husband and I also utilize the library on a regular basis. Actually, we use the library when we can find a parking space. On free afternoons, I enjoy sitting quietly and reading a current magazine. I'll walk into the periodical room and instantly see that every seat is taken because I am not the only Manhasset resident who enjoys the reading room. I can only hope that I can get a seat on my next visit. When we want to do research, the reference area is so overcrowded that it is difficult to find anything. Finally, Manhasset has a proportionally large number of people who make their living on Wall Street. Yet the facilities and resources for financial research are sorely lacking due to space constraints.

I understand that the two previous referendums for a new library failed several years ago. Since then, Manhasset's demographics have changed, property values have soared, and technology has improved. Meanwhile, our current library is even more out of date. We, as parents and residents, need to work together to build a new library for our children and ourselves. We can start by attending the library open forum on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. to learn more about the four proposed options for our library. I urge you to attend this meeting and to volunteer your support for a new library.

Maureen Lavin