LIBRARY BOOK SALE November 24, 2006
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Well, now that Thanksgiving is officially over, the silly season begins. We have had some very generous patrons donate new books that we cannot add to the collection (we already own them or do not have the space for them). Instead, we are making them available to you for $1-$3 a hardcover and .50 cents for a paperback. These books are mostly in excellent condition and would make great gifts!
Hope everyone had a great holiday. Allison
CHANGE IN SCAFFOLDING START DATE November 22, 2006
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The company that will scaffold and put safety walks to each entrance will begin installation on Tuesday Nov. 28 rather than Monday, as previously posted.
SCAFFOLDING GOING UP STARTING 11/27/06 November 21, 2006
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Due to the condition of the masonry just under the roof eaves and the frighteningly large piece of masonry that fell several weeks ago, scaffolding will be put up at the Library. On Monday, Nov. 27, they will put a protective walkway at the side, handicapped accessible entrance. When they have completed that, they will put protective scaffolding leading up to the front door of the building.
Engineers checked the building thoroughly on Friday November 17th. They found that there are areas of the roof where water is leaking between the exterior wall and the eaves. When this water freezes, it can cause the stone to split and separate. The engineering firm estimates we can get through one more winter before the problem becomes acute.
Please use caution when entering the building. When the scaffolding is up, please walk underneath it so we can be assured of your safety. We have professionals checking the roof for the leaks. They will produce a report delineating the items that must be fixed next year.
If you have any questions or concerns, please phone me at 725-0049 x23.
Fact-finding Bus Trip to 5 East End libraries November 21, 2006
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On Friday November 17, a number of Sag Harbor residents joined me on a bus trip to visit five different East End libraries. We went with open minds, to see what services are offered by these libraries, what building expansions or projects they had gone through, and to receive advice. We learned some wonderful things.
At Rogers Memorial in Southampton, we saw the memorial rose garden, the brick walkway where people had inscriptions made, and the beautifully restored Cooper Hall which is used for meetings and the Friends of the Library booksale.
Hampton Bays has an amazing new teen area. It has multiple computers, study areas, space for collections, display space for teen artwork, a program space and a beautiful mural that one of their very talented librarians is painting. It is truly a young adult section to which we can aspire.
One of the North Fork libraries we visited has a beautiful donor wall called “The Giving Tree”. There is a tree with brass leaves which have donors’ names inscribed on them.
We saw a library that went through multiple additions in the last 15 years, with another one scheduled for next year. The goal in planning a library project is to build something that will suffice for the next 20-30 years.
One of our trustees was on the trip and took photos of some of the things I have mentioned. We’ll try to get them online so that you may see them too!
Meeting at library described local comm’s findings re the future library needs of the Sag Harbor School District October 25, 2006
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On October 25, the Library Development Committee held a standing-room-only meeting to discuss the findings of the Community Library Committee, its recommendations to the Library Board of Trustees, and the work to date of the Library Development Committee. Audience members were given the opportunity to ask questions.
A number of common questions were asked and answered. For example, the audience wanted to know why the library cannot expand on site with or without the purchase of property behind it. Fred Stelle, Chairman of the CLC, noted that the committee decided that the main reason was the negative impact a large library would have on the historic neighborhood. It would not just be during the long construction phase when roads would be closed for months and so on, but rather the fact that if the library expands it can expect at least double its current usage. This would create even more traffic, parking issues, and safety issues. Ultimately, the CLC felt that the best option was spreading the increased use between two buildings.
Fred Stelle brought two large charts with suggestions that committees have made for uses of each of the 2 library buildings. You may see them outside the Director’s office. You are also welcome to come take a copy of the CLC Recommendation to the Board, a 90+ page book explaining every process and train of thought that brought the committee of members representing all parts of the Sag Harbor School District to the consensus they ultimately reached.
If you have any questions or would like further information, please call me at 725-0049 x 23. This is my direct line. Also, bear in mind that in November we will hold a meeting concerning square footage needs and possible costs.
This has been and continues to be a completely open process; we welcome the opportunity to clear up any misinformation out there and to hear your suggestions and thoughts on where we are now.
Budget Vote Sept. 19 August 9, 2006
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You will soon be receiving a letter explaining our budget for 2007. The vote is Sept. 19 at the library from 9:00 am - 8 :00 pm. The three trustee positions will also be voted upon on that date. If you have any questions about the budget, we will be holding the Annual Budget Hearing on Weds. August 16th at 4:00 pm.
Annual Budget Meeting Scheduled for August 16, 4:00 pm See Update Above August 2, 2006
Posted by jjdirector in Library News, from the director.add a comment
Library Board President Greg Ferraris and Director Allison Gray will be in the Rotunda to answer any questions you may have about the budget for 2007, which will be put to vote on September 19. Trustee applications are due by August 15th. If you want to pick up a trustee application, please ask for the Director, or ask at the Circulation Desk. The District Clerk at the High School also has available copies.
Back from New Orleans and still in shock June 29, 2006
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Some of our friends from Biloxi are visiting Sag Harbor this week. They all deserve our respect for what they are still dealing with down South. I had absolutely no idea how bad things still are down there. New Orleans citizens’ were grateful to the American Library Association for being the first major conference to visit NO since Katrina; we all felt embarrassed by their thanks. It is truly unbelievable to me the lack of assistance people are receiving. I spoke with a woman who lost everything - her house disappeared. All that remained of her family’s belongings was a tube of lipstick found in a ditch. There is nothing in parts of the coast - no trees, no buildings, no evidence that there were ever communities there. I just want to humbly thank New Orleans for being so good to us while we were down there. One of the conference speakers was Cooper Anderson. He encouraged librarians, as the keepers of memory in this country, to go home and tell everyone we know not to forget what happened and is still happening to our fellow citizens down South. I encourage everyone to visit New Orleans and bring some help and hope to that city as well as all of the other cities and parishes so devastated by this terrible event.
