Residents of the Carle Place School District last week voted in favor of creating a Carle Place Library Funding District. Residents also approved the proposed budget and elected five trustees to serve on the newly created district's board.

Before the library district could be implemented, residents had to approve the following three propositions on Tuesday, Dec. 10: creation of the Carle Place Library Funding District, which will follow the boundaries of the Carle Place School District; approval of an $845,000 budget to purchase library services from a neighboring library; and the election of a five-member, volunteer board of trustees.

Some 651residents, or 12 percent of the district's total population, voted with 472 votes in favor of and 179 against the proposal. In addition, 433 residents approved the spending plan while 167 rejected it. Overall, both the creation of the district and approval of the budget passed by more than 70 percent.

The proposed $845,000 budget will result in a $2.03 tax rate increase per $100 of assessed value. With the average Carle Place home assessed at $4,000, the proposed budget will cost approximately $81.30 more in taxes a year. Residents will not be taxed on the library district until January 2004.

Residents were also asked to elect five trustees who will be responsible for negotiating new contracts and administering the district. Margaret Wilde (414 votes), Peter McDonnell (374 votes), David Evans (351 votes), Peter Prommersberger (315 votes) and Thomas Sobczak (310 votes) were elected. Sal Battinelli received 306 votes and William Carter received 232 votes. Trustees' terms will be staggered over the next five years so that one trustee will be up for election each year. After five years, each trustee's position will be five years, with a different position seat up for re-election each year.

Since implementing the proposal for a library district, Carle Place has been in negotiations with the Westbury Public Library over the past few months and is expected to negotiate a contract at the start of the new year. It is hoped that Carle Place residents will be able to access services at the Westbury Library as early as July 1, 2003. In the meantime, residents will be able to continue using nearby public libraries if they have a State Mandated Access Card (see CP Residents Still Eligible for Library Access Cards).

"The board and staff of the Westbury Library are delighted to have the opportunity to share our excellent collections, programs and services with the residents of Carle Place," said Cathleen Towey, director of the Westbury Public Library.

According to Prommersberger, the usefulness of a nearby library and full access to its services will benefit so many aspects of life. It is good for our children, our schools, our seniors, our enjoyment, our culture," he said. "It's only a positive for the community." Prommersberger added that the community's response and support for the library proposal was overwhelming. "When I arrived at 6 o'clock [to vote], there were over 100 people waiting to vote," he said. "People came out early and enthusiastic. The response was most gratifying."

According to Town Clerk Michelle Schimel, the library district election resulted in the largest voter participation in the history of Carle Place special district elections, with more than four times as many voters as in the garbage district election and almost 12 times as many voters as in the water district election. "Through the involvement of local residents and our efforts to publicize it, the Carle Place Public Library Funding District Election had, by far, the highest participation rate of any special district election involving the Carle Place area," said Schimel. "I am proud of all of us who worked so diligently at making this such an organized election."

Sobczak agreed, saying, "The turnout was high for this kind of an election. It shows the community was ready, willing and able to accept this initiative. It was a long time coming."

Wilde, who is also president of the Carle Place Civic Association (CPCA), said, "CPCA and I want to thank the community for their support in our venture to gain public library access for our residents. You asked for our assistance and you unanimously approved the vote. Thanks. It is a big accomplishment for all of us."

Until the contract between the Carle Place Library District and the Westbury Public Library is complete, all Carle Place School District residents who do not currently have library services are eligible for a yellow State Mandated Access Card.

To obtain a State Mandated Access Card:

* Go to either the East Meadow or Levittown Library

* Ask at the information desk for the yellow State Mandated Access Card

* Fill out the required forms (Note: At least one form of identification with current address is required for the card. Example: a driver's license or utility bill)

Cards, which are available to all Nassau County residents living in areas currently untaxed for local library services, can be obtained and used at the East Meadow and Levittown libraries. This includes persons who have purchased library services from neighboring libraries and cannot renew those memberships due to state law.

The card is good for one year from the month you applied for or renewed it and will be valid until the Carle Place Library District is fully implemented. The cards, however, are only good for book borrowing privileges and cannot be used for new releases, videos, tapes or library programs.

To date, over 387 Carle Place School District residents have State Mandated Access Cards. Of that total, 70 percent are considered active users by the Nassau County Library System. However, not all libraries accept the State Mandated Library Access Card (the Westbury Library for example), so always call the library you want to use before you go.