Residents gathered at the Syosset Public Library on August 20 to discuss the possible expansion at the library and had a chance to meet the team that would be performing the work.

When Judy Lockman, Syosset Public Library Director, started at the library in April 2001, she knew the library was good, but also knew it could be better. According to Lockman, the shelves are crowded, there are books jammed in and the upstairs mezzanine level is ready to fall through the first floor. Library officials have been dealing with an extreme space shortage problem for the past three years.

They undertook a comprehensive needs assessment study and secured engineering reports for the site and the structure. The way the library is now, the staff was forced to make a hard decision and throw away books due to lack of space.

"As I started talking to people, I grew to understand the high standards of this community," said Lockman. "People here are lifelong learners and need a comprehensive library. I realized that your library needs to be excellent and comfortable. My vision is to make the library a destination place for all ages."

Lockman explained that the library is alive and well. "An average of 2,500 people a day visited the library this summer. This number is up 20 percent from last year," she said.

The five elected Board of Trustees members started interviewing architects and decided on Raymond Beeler of Pelham, New York. Beeler met with the board and library staff to discuss the needs of the library. After approximately ten meetings, he had the preliminary sketches done.

Staff members brainstormed about what people really want from their library and they concurred that many things were needed including more large print books, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, programs, computers, rooms and a comfortable auditorium.

Also, after conversations with Beeler, it was realized that the mezzanine level needed to be re-done. "Currently there is not enough space between stacks of books," said Lockman. "Wheelchairs, walkers and strollers can't get through easily."

Lockman and Beeler explained that the new plan for the library is a 30-year plan - the new library will be able to accommodate many generations. There were only two options for building, according to Beeler, back and up. "We reconfigured the parking area - there is a 50-foot strip of land that we can add on, but that alone was not enough - We also have to go up," he said. "We will maintain the same number of parking spaces and there will be a better drop off and pick up area so the flow of traffic can be maintained. We will also be adding gardens and reading gardens."

In the plans, there will be a 50 percent increase in shelf space, reading areas adjacent to all collections, an enlarged media center with listening stations, teen services, an added story time room in the children's area, a family activity room, more group study rooms, community meeting facilities, a new 150-seat auditorium with sloped seating, a new back entrance and a new lobby and a small coffee bar near the auditorium. There will also be more comfortable seating and more tables for residents to spread out on.

Lockman is very excited about the new rear entrance and lobby, which was the idea of Ellen Firer, assistant director at the library. "The lobby is a social area and not an area where people have to be quiet," she said. "After a good program, people like to stay and talk about it. Also, with the new rear entrance people won't mind parking in the back now."

The plans allow for the first floor of the library to be the "noisier" floor as it will contain the auditorium, the children's section, enhanced media room, magazines and the coffee bar.

The new second floor, which will be accessable by stairs and an elevator, will be a quieter area for reading and studying. There will also be an alcove with a gas fireplace, which will be a place for residents to sit and relax, the reference collection, administration and technical staff services, computer area, Syosset history room, adult non-fiction and offices.

In addition to an architect, a construction manager will also be hired to make sure everything is built the way it should be and also make sure Beeler's plans are carried out.

"We do so much more than is obvious to the eye," said construction manager Bill Sullivan. "Without us, there is no input between the contractor and the client. This should be a collaborative project. We put together a budget with the client and architect, schedule and hold everyone to their figure and make sure the quality is perfect."

The preliminary cost for the expansion, based on estimates, floor plans, and elevations is $13.3 million. This will cost each homeowner less than $60 a year, which is $5 a month and $1.25 a week. "This is not even the price of renting a video at Blockbuster, and you can rent the video for free at the library," said Lockman. "This expansion will increase the value of your home and also the schools and we have a great school district here."

The construction would not upset the operation of the library and the library's collections will remain intact throughout the project.

The library board of trustees and the staff is now hoping for a successful bond referendum vote in December. Residents will have the chance to vote on this proposed expansion, which is estimated to be completed in November 2005.

If the referendum is approved by the voters, the plans are then sent to New York State for approval. Once that is completed, construction can begin. It is then estimated that ground breaking would be in May 2004.

"The library is the cultural and literary heart of the community," said Lockman. "We hope the residents are as excited about this as we are."