The Massapequa Library System this week rededicated its Bar Harbour branch, which after an extensive facelift and expansion, was recently re-opened to the public.

About 100 people, including the Library Board, Project Team, staff, local dignitaries and residents, were on hand at the dedication ceremony on Sunday to celebrate the official opening of the new library.

The renovation brought the building a new computer room, quiet room, children's room, audio visual room and magazine display area. In addition, the circulation desk was enhanced and relocated. These and similar improvements planned for the Massapequa Library System's other branch, the Central building, are being funded by a $3 million bond issue approved by local voters.

"For the community, it brings them into the new millennium," Bill Serynek, library director, said during an interview at Bar Harbour Monday. "It gives them the opportunity to keep pace with new services and technology that are coming down the pike."

The most shining accomplishment of the Bar Harbour project is the new children's room, according to Serynek. He noted that the old children's room was in the basement, while the new one is on the first floor, and is bigger and better lit. The new computer room is also a major advancement he noted, especially considering the public's need for access to technology, and is regularly filled to capacity.

Patrons interviewed at the library expressed similar enthusiasm.

"My kids love to come here," Heidi Sacco said, as she sat reading with her son, Matthew, in the Children's Room. "It's great. It's big. It's airy. It's bright." She noted that the community's support for an expanded library and new children's room is reflective of Massapequa's growing child population. "Every time you come here, it's full," she added.

"I think they've done a good job with it," said Marie Festa, a 30-year resident of Massapequa, as she sat reading to her pre-school age grandchildren in the children's room, a ritual she began with their father when he was a little one. "The personnel are very friendly and accommodating. It's a nice place to bring children and expose them to the value of reading. I've lived in Massapequa a very long time, and I'm very proud of our libraries." She added that the public's support of the bond issue funding the library renovation and expansion is indicative of the value that Massapequans place on the community resource. "I was very pleased that the people of Massapequa realize the value of a good library," she said.

John Levalley, a 17-year resident of Massapequa, agreed. "It was money well-spent, especially when you see what it is now compared to what it was before. It was very necessary to upgrade the library," he said. Levalley especially appreciates the new computer room, which he uses for Internet access. "It's good, especially with the Internet being such a big part of everyday life. Having access to it is very convenient," he added.

Construction at Central began in September of this year, and is expected to be completed by early Spring of 2000. During the interim, all Massapequa library patrons will continue to use the Bar Harbour building. Because of the extra usage at Bar Harbour, parking is currently tight, but according to Serynek, will be plentiful after Central's re-opening.

Presently, the Massapequa Library System has the third highest circulation of all libraries in Nassau County, and more than half of the approximately 48,000 residents in the Massapequa School district are registered users. And, according to Serynek, with the expansion, the future is bright for Bar Harbour. "Now that we have new facilities, they can better accommodate the community and its needs, especially the rising computer and information technology resource," he said.