The Great Neck Library is producing a series of bookmarks to keep the public informed as to the details of the proposed renovation of the Main Library. Follows is the text for bookmark #3, summarizing the purpose and accomplishments of the Library’s Building Advisory Committee, and reviewing the Building Advisory Committee process. Look for the entire series of bookmarks as they become available at all Great Neck Library locations.
Building Advisory Committee – A Brief Synopsis: After the defeat of the referendum, the Building Advisory Committee (BAC) was formed to provide our neighbors with enough information to make an informed decision about the redesign of the Main Library building. The BAC was also asked to provide alternatives to an extended closure and a large budget.
A dedicated and disparate group of volunteer community professionals, patrons, staff and Library Trustees have worked by consensus for over 200 hours to provide you, our neighbors, with answers to your criticisms and concerns. The cooperation and support of the participants have been instrumental in providing the best possible results for our Main Library.
Building Advisory Committee Process: After repeated discussions and meetings, the GNL Board of Trustees (BOT) agreed with the Building Advisory Committee (BAC) findings that a new, creative and less costly approach was needed to accomplish a successful renovation of the Main Library. The BAC achieved consensus on: Responsibility for environmental impact, internal and external safety, and continuation of a transparent process.
Numerous hours were spent developing Requests for Proposal (RFPs) to select: An Architectural Firm, a Hazmat Firm, Construction Counsel, and an Owner’s Representative.
The BOT and BAC thoroughly reviewed the following building necessities: Investigation and removal of any hazardous materials, upgrading of the physical facility with more modern, energy efficient lighting, heating, air conditioning, roofing, windows, insulation, and water run-off systems, and consideration of future technologies, electronic devices and applications.
The bookmarks you receive are a chronology of tasks accomplished and the ongoing nature of the work. We bulleted each completed task in a series of numbered bookmarks that will be distributed on a regular basis to summarize all that has been done before the planned autumn 2013 Referendum vote.
Please contact Laura Weir, Interim Library Director, with any questions, by phone at 466-8055 or email to: HYPERLINK “mailto:lweir@greatnecklibrary.org” lweir@greatnecklibrary.org. Great Neck Library, 159 Bayview Ave., Great Neck, NY 11023.
Be current, stay informed, sign up for email updates at all library service desks at the “Sign-Up Here” locations or use the link on the GNL website: www.greatnecklibrary.org.
Watch for future bookmarks. Collect them all. Attend a BAC meeting (check the GNL website for upcoming dates).
