Fifty years ago when our present library was built, it was state-of-the-art. The perfect-sized library for the community that Manhasset was at the time. The present library has served the community well, but times have changed, our community is larger, there are more than just books that the library makes available to the residents. The building has fallen into disrepair and the size of it does not fit the needs of Manhasset now.

The library has books in storage that cannot be displayed because of lack of space. The board is limited to the amount of new books, videos, DVDs and cassettes they can purchase because of these same space limitations.

We are lucky that here in Manhasset our wonderful library staff is able to offer many enrichment programs at the library. The problem is that there is not enough space for more than a handful of people to take advantage of these programs. Both the adult and children's programs have lengthy waiting lists. Wouldn't it be nice to have sufficient meeting-room space so that everyone who wishes to be involved in library programs or for any community club that wishes to have a meeting at the library can be accommodated? Perhaps some programs for our teenagers?

Our library offers so much to the community, but because of problems like space and parking, most of the residents of Manhasset aren't even aware of the full extent of what is available to them; things like books on tape and on CD, movie rentals and free Internet access, to mention a few. People do not choose to stick around the library after they take out a book because there is nowhere pleasant to sit and read or they are in a rush to move their car from an illegal spot or Apple Bank.

It doesn't matter whether you have finished raising your family or have just started a family. It doesn't matter whether your children go to public or private schools, or where in town you live - it is time for us to band together and support the library trustees in going forward with a new library, either at its present site or The Bath Club property. The longer we wait, the more expensive it will be and we are only delaying the inevitable.

Mary-Jean Hunt