Library History

SHORT CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY LIBRARY

June 28, 1974
- Vote to establish library passes 416 – 360
- first trustees elected (Bauer – 401, Supino – 312, Reilly – 297; Hall – 283, and LaTassa – 273)
August 1^st, 1974
- First budget of $143,000 passes 289 – 274
June 14, 1975
- Library opens its doors to public for the first time in two portable classrooms on William Floyd School District property (building now occupied by CY&FS)
November 1976
- Newsletter #1 published
June 1, 1977
- Moved from portables to storefront in William Floyd Plaza
September 16, 1979
- Gaylord circulation system turned on
December 12, 1979
- $1,700,000 bond issue approved by voters to fund construction of new library
March 1980
- Trustees convey title of portables to WFSD
November 3, 1980
- Groundbreaking for new library
March 21, 1982
- Dedication and Grand Opening of 20,000 sq ft building
June 1, 1982
- Library Journal article featuring computers for public use in the Community Library
September 1982
- VHS format videocassettes available for borrowing
October 1982
- Parent Toddler Workshop began, significantly expanding the role of CPSD to include service to parents, caregivers and very young children.
October 1983
- LVA Satellite Office established
October 2, 1983
- First Sunday open
September 1984
- Introduction of automated catalog
September 1985
- Introduction of second Gaylord automated catalog
February 4, 1987
- A meeting of community leaders at the K of C Hall in Mastic asks Library to maintain a “community calendar”
June 1987
- First end of school year carnival
November 23, 1987
- Bentels retained to do feasibility study regarding library expansion
December 1987
- Library adds books-on-cassette to its collection
October 24, 1988
- Trustees vote to accept Bentel & Bentel’s design for expansion
November 1988
- Introduction of third automated catalog – Library Corporation’s Intelligent Catalog
January 1989
- Music on a Sunday Afternoon concert series inaugurated
September 1989
- Member item grant from Assemblyman Behan used to create Family Education Resource Center
January 1990
- Color introduced to Newsletter
April 1, 1990
- Walter T. Shirley Collection exhibit opens
October 1990
- Library purchases grand piano
March 1991
- Digital telephone system installed
July 1991
- LVA program receives first of three $35,000 federal literacy grants
Summer 1991
- Friends of the Arts is incorporated
- Former storefront Library is reclaimed as “annex”
November 1991
- Information Department Created
March 1992
- Finnegan’s Wake study group has first meeting
October 19, 1992
- Voters approve $3,948,250 bond issue to fund construction of a 24,000 sq ft addition by a vote of 738 – 248
April 29, 1993
- Library receives gift of land from William Floyd plaza Associates, enabling expansion to proceed
January 22, 1994
- Groundbreaking for 24,000 sq ft expansion
September 1995
- Free access to the Internet offered
December 3, 1995
- Grand Opening/Dedication of 24,000 sq ft addition
May 1996
- Library website (http://www.li.net/~mmscl) created
June 26, 1998
- first day of service for new Teen Services Department
June 2006
- 35 Million Bond Vote for library repair and expansion fails
December 2006
- Director William Cicola Retires
January 2007
- Library Board appoints Kerri Rosalia, Director
April 2007
- Budget proposition for Roof repair and partial replacement vote passes
April 2008
- Library Operating Budget vote fails 302 yes 382 no
June 2008
- Library Operating Budget re-vote passes 632 yes 429 no
December 2008
- Library pays off 3.9 million bond from 1992 24,000 sq. ft. addition
2009
- Board begins working with architect Jim Keller of Vitetta Associates on a plan to reconfigure interior space. Inventory of physical assets completed at this time. (furniture, shelving, equipment)
- Library staff meetings with Jim Keller re-think interior layout of collections
2010
- Library Board reviews conceptual plan to add a 10,000 sq. ft. children’s library above the existing facility. Plan requires acquisition and modification of library parking lot.
June 2010
- Victor Conseco and Bob Viola of Sandpebble Builders, Inc. meet with Library Board to propose a facility condition analysis.
January 2011
- Library Board authorizes contract with Sand pebble Builders, Inc. for Phase 2b. Detailed budget estimate for repair work will be developed.
- Library Board authorizes Sand pebble Builders, Inc. to draft Fps for Architects, Mechanical Engineers, Structural Engineers, IT consultant, and environmental consultants.
- Library Board requests debt service schedule from Mainstay to ascertain cost of repair bond to residents.
- Discussion of an October 2011 public vote on repair project.
- HAVOC system for Children’s level fails. Board authorizes emergency repair. Children’s room closed to public for balance of the week. Second oil tank installed outside the library as a temporary measure.
March 2011
- Library Board signs contract with Sandpebble Builders for Phase 2B in the amount of $44,750.00.
- RFPs responses for Architect and Mechanical Engineer reviewed.
  Library Board votes to accept Wiedersum Associates response to
- RFP for Architectural services in the amount of $77,500 as the low bidder.
- Library Board votes to accept Strunk & Alberts response to the RFP for Mechanical Engineering services in the amount of $84,000 as the low bidder.
- Sandpebble Builders attend Library Board meeting to discuss site visit to Serota Property.
- Library Board passes Type II SEQRA resolution for Library Repair Project.
May 2011
- Library Board reviews area rental property costs, including Serota property rent and rent with option to purchase proposal.
  Library Board authorizes appraisal of Serota property.
- WFSD school budget passes 12% increase by five votes. Library Board re-visits the cost of a Bond for Library repairs for the community. A discussion follows of making repairs without an increase in tax through a bond for the community.
June 2011
- Library Attorney attends Board meeting. Advises library that repairs can be financed out of Operating Budget. No bond required.
- Weekly meetings with Wiedersum and Strunk & Albert begin.
July 2011
- Library Board announces to staff and community that repairs will be made without and increase in Library tax. Library will temporarily relocate to rented facilities in the community.
August 2011
- Library Board decides to put repair project on hold pending further community input.
Fall 2011
- Boiler replacement project completed
October 2011
- Library Board Ad-hoc advisory committee meets.
2011-Present
- Library Board has worked on developing renovation plans with the assistance of Sandpebble and Architect Rick Wiedersum. They determined they wished to remain open to the public during renovation and wanted to use the money in the capital reserve fund to pay for it. Renovation plans are filed with NYS Education Department in the Spring of 2013. Budget estimates received in August of 2014 for the anticipated interior renovation were significantly more than expected and the timeline for the project was too lengthy.
August 2014
- Library discovers non-friable asbestos above the ceiling on the main floor of the library. Abatement will be required that will entail emptying the main floor and demolishing everything above the grid (lights, wiring, etc.) and a temporary closure of the library to abate. A partial closure would ensue in order to build out the main floor again for public use.
- Board discusses the option of selling the current building to yield revenue to offset the cost of another library building. Board decides to re-evaluate the option of building a new library on donated land by involving the community in the process.
September 2014
- Director contacts 7 Group – John Boecker to assist in the public workshops required to open the process and decision making to residents and stakeholders concerned with the future of the library.
November 18, 2014
- The first Envision workshop takes place with the project team and community in order to solicit community participation and decide between pursuing a building renovation or a new library building.
January 31, 2015
- A second Envision workshop takes place with the project team and community, this one focused on understanding Library services and associated program spaces, developing and aligning community members around initial project programmatic and performance goals, and assessing project options.
March 21, 2015
- A third Envision workshop takes place, with attendees indicating their preference to pursue a new library building located on the Links property.
2016 to Present
- The Library Board and Administration holds a public meeting at the William Floyd High School to update the community on the planning process for the proposed new Community Library.
  State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) process is finalized.
- Envision Subcommittee continues to meet to discuss design of new building.
- Board consults with Munistat, a municipal financial advisory service on bond rates.
- Board of Trustees meets with William Floyd School District Board.
- Board of Trustees meets with Brookhaven Town.
- Board of Trustees calls for a resolution to hold a special district meeting on February 7, 2018.

Library History

SHORT CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY LIBRARY

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