Port Washington Public Library officials said last Wednesday they are awaiting final approval from New York State to move forward with a $1.5 million renovation of the children’s room.
“Additional answers to engineering questions are being sent the New York State Facilities Planning Bureau. Once those are reviewed and we get approval the bidding process will begin,” Library Trustee Nancy Comer said. “The time line is not certain yet.”
The library intends to renovated the room to allow for updated technology, as well as expanded workshop and reading space, library Director Nancy Curtin said. The room would also be renamed the Jackie and Harold Spielman to honor their support for the project.
The project’s cost will be funded by private donations, grants and capital reserves, with no additional burden placed on the taxpayer, Curtin said.
“We are transforming our building to meet the needs of a community that starves for public space, where everyone is welcome, no one is judged, and each member of the community is free to work, learn, gather interact, be informed, be entertained, or simply relax,” library Board President Robert Aitken said.
The Children’s Room will temporarily relocate to the Media Room, which is on the lower level, directly across from the Children’s Room. The bulk of the children’s collection will remain available. Children’s programming and events will continue, but officials said they will be somewhat limited due to the reduction in space.
Officials said they expect the project to take approximately nine months to complete.
Also at the meeting, the board discussed new streaming media services such as Rokus and hoopla.
Library community relations official Dan Chuzmir said the library now offers Rokus to its members to watch the latest movies and TV, and hoopla music, movies, ebooks, audiobooks and digital comics.
“We believe in giving the community as many options as possible. We don’t see this as transitioning away from one thing towards another, but just doing what we always do, provide a good experience and let our cardholders access materials and content in whatever ways they feel comfortable with,” Chuzmir said.
To sign up visit hoopladigital.com or download the hoopla app from your app store, select your library, enter your card number and email address, and create a password.
Video content on hoopla is available for three days after borrowing. Music is available for seven days, while e-books, comics and audiobooks are available for 21 days. Each cardholder can check out five hoopla items per month; this limit will reset at the beginning of the month.
