The board of trustees of the Manhasset Public Library held two public meetings last week, one on Wednesday, Feb. 26, in the evening, and one on Saturday, March 1, in the morning. Both meetings were fairly well attended and most of those in attendance seemed receptive to the message of the board--that a new library is needed. The referendum on the $16.8 million bond issue will be held at the library from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on March 19.

After introducing the other members of the board, Seval LaRocca, Senetta Koch, Frank Hone and Jim Pelzer, Board President Carol Ascrizzi began by describing the inadequacy of the present library to meet the needs of today's residents. Among other things she said that the staff is crowded, the children's room extremely crowded and inadequate, for every new item purchased another must be discarded due to lack of space and parking for only 40 cars does not meet the demand.

Ms. Ascrizzi reminded the residents that a 1995 referendum was defeated by only 48 votes. Since then the library board had held many public meetings to try to determine the desire of the public with regard to a new library. She then introduced Roger Smith, the architect who has designed the proposed new library. Mr. Smith is also the architect of the expansion of Munsey Park School. Mr. Smith said he has been working for three years on this proposal. The first determination was where the library should be located, the next how big it should be. He said that the public preferred the library to remain in or about its present location. The acquisition of the corner property on Northern Boulevard and Onderdonk Avenue, recently occupied by Adam Art, will permit the construction of a new library on the corner site while leaving the present library in operation during construction. Mr. Smith said he had consulted a nationally known library planner before deciding on a library of 38,000 square feet built on four levels, with a mansard roof to give a sense of a two-story structure.

The main floor of the new library will have a grand staircase and an elevator. There will be one circulation desk, a cafe, and new books, periodicals and audiovisual access. There will be a seating area on each floor and toilets on each floor. The second floor will have a reference desk, a young-adult section and computers. Non-fiction books will also be located on the second floor as will a conference room. The third floor will be the children's library as well as house the staff and technical services. The lowest level will be the location of the community room seating 200 with a stage and a small kitchen.

If the referendum is successful, the design development period is expected to take from 10 to 12 months with the New York State Education Department taking another five or six months to give approval. The first step will be to demolish the Adam Art building and after that 18 months of construction. The library is expected to move into the new building in January 2006.

The library will be financed through 25-year tax-free municipal bonds. The cost to the taxpayer is projected to be $1.13 per $100 of assessed valuation and will add $113 to the tax bill of a homeowner whose home is assessed at $10,000 with the first impact to be felt in 2005. Ms. Ascrizzi stressed the fact that the recent reassessment will not change the projected $113 increase, although it will be computed differently.

In the question and answer period, Mr. Dennis Cogan (whose letter to the editor appears on the editorial page of today's Manhasset Press) pointed out that the schools will probably have a bond issue coming up as a result of the school board's decision to move the sixth grade to the middle school. For Mr. Cogan's other points, see his letter. Anne Zabriskie said that a visit to Barnes & Noble can easily cost $200 and the library is a bargain. George Nowicki advised all who are in favor of the library to remind their friends to get out and vote. Bruce Bent, Plandome resident and former candidate for Nassau County Executive, said that he had asked for data relating to library use. He determined that although enrollment in the public schools is up 20 percent, library use is down. He proposed building a small building on the Adam Art site to house electronic equipment while continuing to use the present library.

In response to Mr. Bent's point that library use is down, Ms. Ascrizzi attributed it to the condition of the present library and its lack of parking.

The library has sent out brochures to help the public make the decision on March 19. Applications for absentee ballots are available at the reference desk of the library.