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Community Corner

Library Board Members Look Ahead

Monthly meeting starts discussions on library's future and five-year plan.

Sayville Library's board of trustees opened the discussion of implementing a five-year plan at their recent meeting.  While discussing the future, the board said it would like input from the public and will reach out to local organizations such as PTA and Rotary.

Alice Lepore, library director, offered all board members an example of what other libraries are doing and also referenced the last plan done by the library in 2005. "This is a good guideline to get started," she said. "I would like to get our winter programs off the ground. As homework, I would like you to start thinking about the stakeholders in the community and what the library will mean to the community in the next five years. Then we can start thinking about the members we would like to include in the ad hoc committee in January."

In the budget and finance report, Brendan McCurdy, board president, said the library is in a strong financial position. However, there has been a change on the state level of how libraries need to report their payment for post-employment or pensions.

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Library pensions were not typically included in the financial report. "The catch is you need to determine how much those payments will be over the course of the retiree's life and that's a hard thing to calculate," McCurdy said. "We have hired an actuary and these funds can be amortized over a 30-year period for accounting purposes. But if you were to drop all those funds on your balance statement at once, it would look like you were bankrupt."

Lepore reported on a monthly review of new library happenings. The highlights include:

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  • The photo scanning machine has been added to the adult services department, located upstairs.
  • A calendar application is in the works for the library's webpage and should be completed within the next month.
  • The library is getting umbrella bags for patrons instead of having an umbrella stand in the lobby. This will help keep the facility cleaner and drier.
  • The library is via the library card campaign. Lepore has made presentations to the three at recent PTA meetings in hopes of reaching the younger audience. "I think the PTA presentation really opened the parents' eyes to the new website and got them thinking about all the library has to offer," Lepore said.
  • In building the new library, many selections were made to keep the facility energy efficient and green. Lepore recently met with a LIPA representative to find out if the library qualifies for any rebate programs. Thanks to the lighting and sensors in many areas, the facility will earn close to $9,000 in rebates, Lepore said.
  • The library is looking into getting a self-checkout system. Three libraries – Sachem, South Huntington and Middle Country – already have them. The plan is to see how other libraries are handling them, work out any kinks, and get on board next year.
  • The garden area is having some issues due to poor dirt. Many plants and bushes have died and already been replaced. The landscaper recommends adding fertilizer and will plant some boxwoods by the front sign for about $470. Eventually, in the spring season, the dirt will need to be replaced.  
  • In an effort to help control some of the noise issues, there has been glazing done in some of the meetings rooms. Sounds panels will be installed in the stairwells to help eliminate some noise and other measures are in the works such as grill boots for the ceiling and wall insulators.

The next library board meeting will be held on December 13 at 7 p.m.

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