On Wednesday, Jan. 21, residents of the Sewanhaka Central High School District, which includes Elmont, Franklin Square, New Hyde Park and Floral Park will decide the fate of the Alva T. Stanforth (ATS) Junior High School, the school on Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont that has been abandoned since 1985.

Residents of Elmont, Franklin Square, New Hyde Park and Floral Park will vote on Proposition #1 on the ballot, which authorizes the Sewanhaka Central High School District to sell 3.745 acres of the ATS property to the Elmont Public Library for $2,146,000 and demolish the portion of the ATS building remaining on district property.

The second proposition on the ballot will only pertain to residents of Elmont and calls for the authorizing of the construction of a new library on a portion of the ATS site for an amount not to exceed $14,500,000.

Proposition #1, the sale of the land to the library, must pass in order for Proposition #2 to pass. If both propositions pass, Elmont will be getting a new library that will include parking for 208 cars, a new 450-seat theater, 3,650 square feet of meeting room space, a new local history room, group study rooms, expansion of the children's and adult services' book shelving by approximately 32 percent, space for a young adults section for ages 13 to 18, a children's craft room that could accommodate up to 24 children, a larger public computer area, larger open areas for additional tables and seating, a career counseling center and an office for the Nassau County Department of Senior Citizen Affairs liaison.

The cost for Elmont residents, if the bond is approved, for the new library is estimated to be $60 per year over the next 20 years.

Elmont Public Library Director Janis Schoen has been holding budget presentations in hopes of educating the public about the project. Schoen said she has heard some positive comments about the project. Úquot;It looks good on the horizon, but I'm so scared,Úquot; said the library director.

Schoen said she has also heard some negatives, but hopes residents will get out and vote.

Residents of the Elmont School District will vote at their local elementary school, the same one they would for a budget vote, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m; residents of the Floral Park-Bellerose School District will vote and the John Lewis Childs and Floral Park-Bellerose Schools from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; residents of the Franklin Square School District will vote at the John Street School, Polk Street School and Washington Street School from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and residents of the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School District will vote at the Manor Oaks-William R. Bowie School from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For voting information, visit www.nassaulibrary.org/elmont.