Residents of Franklin Square East who currently do not receive library services will vote on Thursday, Sept. 18 whether to establish the East Franklin Square Library District and North Valley Stream Library Funding District and whether to join in supporting the financial budget of a host library.

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and Councilmen James Darcy and Edward Ambrosino announced that the Hempstead Town Board passed a resolution on Aug. 12 allowing East Franklin Square residents and North Valley Stream residents to vote on a referendum concerning the establishment of the East Franklin Square Library Funding District and North Valley Stream Library Funding District.

The vote will take place on Sept. 18 from noon to 9 p.m. at the regular polling stations. Only voters within the proposed district area who are registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections will be eligible to vote.

The authority for the town to hold a referendum for residents of East Franklin Square and North Valley Stream to establish library districts came from a new state law. Assemblymen Tom Alfano and Bob Barra as well as Senator Dean Skelos were instrumental in getting the law passed.

"We have worked closely with Senator Skelos and Assemblymen Alfano and Barra to ensure that East Franklin Square residents have an opportunity to enjoy all of the educational, cultural and social benefits that go along with full library service," said Murray.

On Sept. 18, voters of East Franklin Square will vote on whether to establish an East Franklin Square Library District and residents of North Valley Stream will vote on whether to establish a North Valley Stream Library District.

According to Ambrosino, there will be two propositions on the ballot, both of which must be passed in order to establish the library districts. The first proposition asks whether or not the district shall be created pursuant to the provisions of the enabling state legislation.

The second proposition will asked residents of unserved areas which library they would like to contract with. If residents of Franklin Square East and North Valley Stream vote to form a library district and contract with a host library, they will assume a portion of the tax burden to financial support that library.

For residents of North Valley Stream, the choices are the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library in Valley Stream, the Elmont Public Library and the West Hempstead Public Library. For residents of East Franklin Square, the choices are the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library, Elmont Public Library, Malverne Library and West Hempstead Public Library.

However, once a library is chosen, a resident isn't necessarily locked into that library. Once a library card is issued, the card holder is then entitled to use any library in the Nassau County Library system.

Assemblymen Alfano and Barra were pleased that the town passed a resolution for the referendum vote.

"I'm glad the Town of Hempstead has moved on the resolution and the people will have their say at the poles. This is great news for Franklin Square," said Assemblyman Alfano. "It's my hope that the children and seniors will finally get the library services they have wanted for so long."

"I think it's time then people have a chance to decide whether they want this district," said Assembyman Barra.

If residents of East Franklin Square and North Valley Stream vote "yes" to both propositions on Sept. 18, then library services can begin as early as January 2004.