On Tuesday, residents of West Hempstead voted down a referendum to build a new library on the Western Beef property by a 1455 to 916 margin.

The project included the purchase of the property from the owner who has considered using the property for a storage facility.

Proponents of the library project admitted that the location wasn't ideal, but provided the best available location to build a much needed library. A brochure mailed out by the West Hempstead Civic Association stated that the property "was the only real place in West Hempstead to build a new, modern, and co-effective library to serve all residents of the community. Is it perfect? No. But no place is - not yet! This project represents our best chance to revitalize this portion of West Hempstead and provide our residents with high-quality library services."

In discussions about the library leading up to the vote, some residents expressed concerns about where the new library would be situated. The area in question at the intersection of Hempstead Avenue and Woodfield Road was said, by some, to be an area of safety concern. Another concern was the proximity of the property to the Courtesy Hotel, which the civic association has been trying to close down via petitions.

Proponents of the library felt, however, that a new library would revitalize an area considered to be somewhat blighted. However, the majority of residents didn't support the project, which was expected to cost almost $20 per month for the length of the bond.

With the project being turned down, it is still the opinion of many that West Hempstead still needs an updated library facility. The library board tried to build a 26,500 square foot facility while the current library is only 8,000 square feet. With the greater availability of research materials and information, it stands to reason that more room is needed to accommodate a greater number of services.

- Joe Rizza