Syosset Public Library lost two very skilled employees earlier this year when Alice Nayer and Isabel Goldenkoff both retired.

Alice Nayer was been working in libraries since 1966. She was the director of the Elmont Library for five years prior to becoming the director of Syosset's library in 1992. Although she is officially retired, she will still be at the library on an as-needed basis as a consultant until new director Judith Schimmel starts on April 2.

Schimmel comes to Syosset from the Seaford Public Library. The library had to go through Civil Service to hire a new director and in order to make Civil Service's list one would have to have been the director of a smaller library or an assistant director for three years and live in Nassau County. "It is a very restricted process," said Nayer. "The pool is not very large, but luckily we were able to reach Judith, whom we wanted." The board got to choose from the top three candidates and selected Schimmel.

As director, Nayer ran the entire library, which has a $2.6 million budget and approximately 68 employees. Nayer made executive decisions and reported to the board with the happenings of the library. The board, which is very similar to a school board, consists of five members who are all volunteers.

Among Nayer's accomplishments as director of Syosset's library are expanding the Children's Room, the Jessica Bari Goldstein Story Time Room, a children's computer room, the addition of 20 public use computers with attached printers and Internet access, group study and research rooms, an up-to-date Technical Services Department, expanded parking areas and additional handicapped-accessible facilities.

Thinking back at all of these accomplishments, Nayer recognizes that it was a very hard decision to retire. "It was hard to leave and I am not too sure that I am happy and made the right choice," said Nayer. "The main thing is that I reached the big 65 and I said "Oh no, am I going to work the rest of my life or am I going to find some time to do something else."

Nayer has been helping many of her senior friends learn to use the computer and she hopes to pursue something along those lines in her retirement days. "I love computers and I am very good with them," said Nayer. "I'd like to help seniors get into the information age."

Other plans for Nayer include reading. "I have a big book collection that I would like to start divesting myself of," said Nayer. "I want to keep up with the libraries and I do not want to lose that because I have put so much into it. I want to keep learning - there is so much to learn."

Nayer accredits her success as director to having a very good board and a cooperative staff. "The fact that I was able to do so much renovation and expansion throughout my tenure here and modernize the library was great," said Nayer. "Working with such great people has been so wonderful. We are one of the most technically advanced in the county."

Isabel Goldenkoff was at the library for over 22 years and was head of reference and adult services department at the Syosset Public Library for the past five years. She retired on Jan. 1.

The new head of reference, Ellen Firer who was previously at Plainview's Library, began her position after Goldenkoff retired.

"It was a very difficult decision for me to retire," said Goldenkoff. "It was an extremely rewarding career for me. I found the work very challenging and because of all of the more recent technological changes, it made the work more challenging and very interesting. I found the community always very supportive and an excellent and cooperative staff. All of these things make it very difficult to leave. When you are comfortable and used to a place it is hard."

Goldenkoff was at the library to see all of the changes and upgrades occur. She was there when the library changed over to computers from the old card catalog system. "Surprisingly, you learn fast," said Goldenkoff. "You realize it is here to stay and everyone was used to the old card catalog, but we all adjusted."

Goldenkoff credits her success, and the library's success, to the community. "We do get very good public support and that is crucial," she said.

The library began as a volunteer library in 1958 and the current building, located at 225 South Oyster Bay Road in Syosset, was built in Feb. 1970. Library hours are Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday noon - 5 p.m.