Like most of us, I feel the tug at my heart strings, the lump in my throat,

and the tear well in the corner of my eye, when I look at an old photograph,

reviving faded memories, reliving past adventures. Ah, nostalgia -- to

rekindle, if ever so briefly, a glorious past, seemingly so much better than

the realities of today.

At the Friends of the West Hempstead Public Library, itself reawakening after

several years of dormancy, there is a certain pleasure in seeing the photos

of Friends past, and in reading old newsletters prepared by the Friends,

expressing a hope for what was then the future, and what is, for us, the here

and now.

Amazing what can be gleaned from these vignettes of the past -- if nothing

more, that the lessons of history, if not heeded, will lead us down the road

to an empty, vacuous future. I was particularly struck by a rather poignant

prophesy, revealed through the Friends newsletter of January, 1991, written a

decade ago, a century away:

"...there are serious concerns on all our parts for the Library's future. The

Library is currently on a ten-year lease ... for a portion of an old school

building under the jurisdiction of the Board of Education. Under present

conditions, Library space is at a premium, and it is not likely that more

space can be allocated to the Library under a renewed lease."

Sounds familiar, doesn't it? The 1991 newsletter continued -- "Over the past

several years, some relief from the 'space squeeze' has come from a

re-working of the inner areas of the Library... this has given but temporary

respite. It is only a matter of 2 years or so before the Library is 'spaced

out.' Let us start now to think constructively of dealing with the emergent

problem."

In the intervening ten years, our library has continued to grow, providing a

greater array of services and resources to an ever more demanding consumer.

And still, the problem of space limitations, and the inadequacy of a 19th

century library in a 21st century world, continue to plague our town.

That "old school building" is now a new school building, proudly serving the

next generation of West Hempsteaders, and our old library plods along, the

vision of new vistas blurred, and opportunities for growth and renewal

squandered, for want of spending a paltry $20 a month.

Where we have traveled, as a library, and as a community, and the lessons we

have studied, if not fully absorbed, should tell us where we need to sojourn

still. History points us in the direction of a new library, and that must

truly be our primary objective as this second year of the new century

unfolds. As West Hempsteaders, and as Friends of our Library, we can, and we

must, accept no alternative.

Yes, I enjoy a ride down memory lane, every now and then. Reading those

weathered newsletters, and trying to match the faces in the old photos to

names of those who helped build and sustain our library, gives us a sense of

where we've been, and a reason and resolve, knowing full well where our

travels must now lead. And I revel at the thought of planning events and

fundraisers, all in the name of a community's commitment to a great center of

history, and a boundless portal to the future -- our library.

Still, all the book sales, art exhibits, and welcome teas will be for naught

if (or should I say when) we have no library. Where do we go in five years,

or 10 at the most, when the library's small corner at Chestnut is itself

needed as classroom space?

Friends do not let friends whither, waste away, and die. And the Friends,

whose mission is to promote and enhance our library's services and

facilities, do not long dote over old photos, or wax nostalgically over the

way things used to be.

It is now upon us, as Friends of the West Hempstead Library, and as friends

of the West Hempstead community, to take that step forward, to make that

quantum leap, to create what for future generations will be a great moment in

our history, to be looked back upon with a lump in the throat, a tear in the

eye, and a real sense of pride.

Let's be friends, let's become Friends, and let's build that new library!

Seth Bykofsky

(The writer is President of the West Hempstead Civic Association, and Vice

President of the Friends of the West Hempstead Public Library. Those

interested in joining the Friends can call Carol Segrete at 481-6591.)