As part of their continuing outreach to the community, the Board of Trustees of the John Jermain Memorial Library and the Library Development Committee (LDC) will hold their fourth community forum on Wednesday, Jan. 31st at 6 p.m. in the North Haven Village Hall. The forum will discuss a site plan and floor plans for the new building adjacent to the park, and possible influences on its design.

According to Board President Greg Ferraris, the board and the committee of community people will hold forums at least every month, aiming for a referendum in June to finance the two-building library expansion. “We would like all taxpayers in the Sag Harbor School District to participate in and understand our planning so that in June they can cast an informed vote. The expanded library will be a huge asset to the community, and we believe that a well-informed public will support the program.”

The board and the LDC already have held three open forums. Over the next few months they will address the important issues of design for the new building at the southern entrance to Sag Harbor, as well as preservation of, and modest addition to, the 96-year old existing building, enabling it to continue to provide vital library services to the community.

“When I step into this library, I cannot understand why I ever step out of it.”

Marie de Sevigne

I love to listen to NPR’s news/game show “Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me” but I came to work crabby today because of this week’s broadcast.  Mind you, this show is for people who know current events, have very quick wits, and disseminate a lot of information, albeit not all of it terribly important.  They apparently had a celebrity guest on sometime last year who had wanted to be a librarian when she was a little girl.  The host and guests proceeded to talk about how shocked they were that the guest would consider such a lowly job as a boring old librarian.  That has made me irritable all day.

     Librarians are, not to sound boastful, keepers of knowledge worldwide.  We are often at the forefront of actions against threats to our Constitution or personal rights.  We always fight for confidentiality and personal freedoms for our users.  When the Internet first became prevalent, everyone predicted the end of public libraries.  In fact, use skyrocketed because librarians know how to evaluate websites, unlike Google or other search engines.  As an aside, whenever the American Library Association conference members leave the host city, the hotel clerks always say “I never knew you librarians were so rowdy”!  We were the first major organization to have a conference in New Orleans last summer.  I could go on and on.  If I sound annoyed, I am.

PS - I may wear glasses, but I don’t have a bun and I don’t walk around shushing people!

Happy New Year to all and especially to all us stereotyped librarians!      Allison

The Library Development Committee (LDC) and the Trustees of the John Jermain Library have compiled an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) concerning the proposed expansion and restoration of the Library. This FAQ puts all the answers to the questions that are most commonly asked of the Trustees and LDC members in one place. You can read the this question and answer document by visiting the Library’s website, or just clicking here. You can also pick up a printed copy of the document at either of the Library’s circulation desks.

Some of you may have seen the long article in the Sunday East End Edition of Newsday from Dec. 24.  They took photos of the damage to the roofline and eaves, a most unflattering photo of me, , and a much more flattering photo of Alison Cornish & Fred Stelle.  The article is very informative to those who have not kept up with the developments of the last year.  You can request a copy at the library Circulation Desk or come to my office to read my copy.  Just please ignore the photo of me!

You may expect to pick up one of these FAQ’s sometime this month.  We will also post them on the web.  When you read the FAQ, you will discover answers to questions that we frequently receive, like:  why can’t we just expand the current building?; what will the current building be used for when we have a 2-building library?;  What properties did the CLC look into as possibilities for sites for the new building?

Also, please remember that the next public forum is at the end of January.  You can give input there.  We also welcome responses on the blog.

Happy New Year to All,                       Allison Gray, Director