Could you imagine a neighborhood in which one side of the street has access to library services and the other does not? Could you imagine a school class in which one student has the ability to borrow materials from the library and another does not?

That situation exists in New York, but thanks to a new bill that may change.

Governor George Pataki signed into law legislation authored by Assemblymembers Tom Alfano and Bob Barra that may give library services to areas that do not belong to a library district.

The new law will authorize the Town of Hempstead to hold an election and offers residents a choice to join a library district. The bill was authored by Alfano and Barra and co-sponsored by now town councilman James Darcy when Darcy was an assemblyman. Long Beach Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg also helped pass the bill. In the Senate, the bill was sponsored by Dean Skelos.

Assemblyman Barra saw the need for some people to have library service when he walked the streets of his district. "It was on people's minds," he said.

In fact, the issue hit close to home as neither Assemblyman Barra, a resident of North Lynbrook nor Assemblyman Alfano, a resident of North Valley Stream, had library services.

The lawmakers began work on a bill that took about three and a half years to become a law. Among those areas that have been identified as places where some residents may not have library services are parts of North Valley Stream, Franklin Square, Malverne, North Lynbrook and Franklin Square east. Proponents of the new law believe it opens the doors for people who do not have library services.

Currently, those residents who do not belong to a library district are issued a state mandated library card. But, according to Alfano's office, that card doesn't entitle the user to borrow new books or CDs or DVDs.

Alfano credits the group "People without Libraries" for helping to make the law a reality. "This has been a long time coming," said Assemblyman Alfano "For far too long, our community has gone without library services. Now residents will have their say on the matter."

The new law doesn't automatically give people services. A referendum is expected to be held in mid to late September that will ask those without library services if they would like to join a library district and secondly whether they will vote on the tax levy. Both questions must receive a positive vote for library access to happen.

"This law now allows everybody to have a say and a vote. I couldn't be happier for the community," said Councilman Darcy.