On Oct. 25 voters will be asked to decide whether or not they support a $20.8 million bond that would renovate and expand the Main Branch of the Great Neck Library. There are those who think that in the 21st Century with the proliferation of e-books and at least one computer in nearly every home that public libraries have outlived their usefulness.
We disagree.
In defending the bond, Steven Markowitz, vice chair of the Nassau County Democratic Committee, argued that “Libraries are more than computers. It’s a community resource for meetings, book discussions, for classes. For all kind of things that don’t exist anywhere else in Great Neck.”
Surveys taken in cities across the country show that, by-in-large, people strongly agree with Markowitz.
If the bond is approved, the Main Branch of the Great Neck Library might be closed for up to two years. The renovation and expansion would add 8,600-square feet and make the building accessible to patrons with disabilities. The mezzanine would be eliminated and the library would be made ADA compliant. Computers would be isolated and the children’s room, teen center, audiovisual department would all be expanded.
New technology including I-pads, smart phones and laptops are tremendous sources of information. But they also tend to isolate.
The renovation and expansion of the Main Branch will allow the library to continue the vital service of bringing people together. It will improve the library’s ability to help children discover the wonder of books and better serve as a quiet environment for students to do homework with access to books and computers. The renovation and expansion will also the library to continue to serve as a center for community forums.
And at a time when unemployment is nearing 10 percent they can serve as a place where people can look for work and begin to train for new careers.
While $20 million is serious money, it is money that will be poured back into the community creating construction jobs and other work.
In these difficult times voters need to be assured that this money will be well spent – something that the current leadership has sometimes fallen short of providing. Those who support the referendum need to hold the library’s leadership accountable to a higher standard in the future if the bond is approved.
Critics say the expanded library will come too close to Udall’s Pond. The way we see it even that could be a plus. The library could collaborate with the people in charge of the pond to use the library to teach about the importance of conservation in urban areas like Nassau County.
Some critics also argue that the library should be renovated, but not expanded. We believe this would be pennywise and pound foolish. The Main Branch is in need of extensive work no matter what. The additional cost of the expansion is more than set off by the benefits of having a library that meets the needs of the 21st Century.
The Great Neck Library helped create an educational and cultural environment that has made Great Neck such a great place to live.
We believe that the Great Neck Library can continue to do this in the future. We hope our readers will agree by voting for this bond.
A Blank Slate Media Editorial
