In reply to Dr. Tiberius Den's letter of 4/17/003: Statistics cannot measure the delight of library lovers who regard the library as a second home--who know the joys of aimless browsing--of the intriguing pursuit of missing links--of the pleasure of borrowing and returning and borrowing some more--of the amazing inter-library loan service that fulfills the most eccentric requests for films or books not available in our collection. And of the pleasure of chatting with librarians whose patient attention and generous assistance has eased the way of technocretins such as I into the profound mysteries of the Internet.

Statistics cannot measure the enthusiasm of audiences and participants for concerts, lectures, discussion groups, yoga classes, nor the eager anticipation of young children waiting outside on chilly Tuesday mornings for the library to open so they can enjoy the communal delights of being read to.

And where else could the following scenario have unfolded? I was recently being helped to find information about sciatica on the Internet when a gentleman nearby said, "Sciatica? I'll show you what to do about sciatica," whereupon he lay down on the library floor and demonstrated an exercise which I pursued at home, and within a week the sciatica which I'd suffered for almost a year was gone.

Dr. Den, I think your conclusion that 75 percent of Manhasset citizens who didn't bother to show up to vote have no time for library visits may not be correct. More likely they couldn't find a place to park in order to vote-but I believe many of them will show up to enjoy and support our long awaited new library. I hope you will too.

Francine Barkan