Library On The Way “UP”
The Peninsula Public Library has reached another important milestone with the completion of its new state-of-the-art elevator. The Library Board deserves recognition for seeing this project through to completion under budget and ahead of schedule. Taxpayers should appreciate the Board’s commitment to finding a practical and cost-effective solution rather than simply accepting the easiest and most expensive option.
The Board was initially presented with an estimated repair cost approaching $500,000. Rather than accept that figure at face value, Board members carefully reviewed their options, consulted with legal counsel, and pursued a strategy that resulted in a new elevator for $184,000. That represents a substantial savings for us, the taxpayers who fund the library.
This accomplishment becomes even more significant when viewed in the context of other libraries that have struggled with elevator repairs. Some libraries have dealt with out-of-service elevators for more than a year while repair costs continue to mount. The Uniondale Library elevator experienced a constant cycle of failures for two years already. They are hoping Congresswoman Laura Gillen will get them a federal grant of $472,000 to repair their elevator.
The elevator project is only one example of the Board’s approach to fiscal responsibility. Supporters point to other instances where the Board questioned proposed expenditures and sought competitive pricing. In one example, the former library director tried to push the board to approve a $5,000 fee to clean the sewer line. The Board refused to approve such a high amount to clean the sewer. Instead, the Board obtained additional quotes and found another company that completed the same work for $1,000. This willingness to ask questions and seek more competitive pricing reflects the kind of oversight taxpayers expect from the officials who represent them.
One of the Board’s greatest strengths has been its willingness to carefully examine library operations and expenditures. Board members have demonstrated a serious commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars. Whether reviewing contracts, evaluating bids, or considering major capital projects, the Board has consistently emphasized accountability and responsible financial management.
Despite all this, the Board has been criticized by the former library director, several library employees, and some of their relatives and supporters. During recent Board meetings, all of the opposition to the board has come from this small group. Many of these employees do not even live in our district and they certainly do not speak for the broader community. The library does not exist for the employees even though some of them seem to think otherwise.
The elevator became a focal point for criticism by these employees while it was out of service. They had something they thought they could use against the Board. They brought their union representatives to threaten the Board. In fact, while the work was being conducted on the elevator, a library employee, in an apparent attempt to sabotage the Board’s repair efforts, called the Village of Lawrence to get a stop work order. Letters signed with fictitious names were sent from fictitious email addresses to local newspapers criticizing the Board. These union employees even went on an illegal sickout strike on a Friday, the day on which by far the most books are checked out. This hurt the Orthodox Jewish community particularly hard since that is the day our families check out books to read over Shabbos. The successful completion of the elevator project demonstrates that the Board remained focused on achieving the best long-term outcome rather than responding to artificial pressure created by these employees and their union reps.
Now that the elevator has been fully modernized at a fraction of the original estimated cost, the Board’s approach was clearly the right one. Those employees will still try to find something to complain about. Again, they are simply looking to attack and undermine without any justifiable reason. Complainers will always look for something to complain about.
More recently, some employees are trying to generate criticism regarding the Board’s decision to suspend Saturday operations during the summer until after the holidays. The Board has explained that they based their decision on seasonal staffing challenges and operational needs. Supporters also note that Saturday usage has historically been negligible and patrons can continue to use the library’s outdoor pickup system by placing requests before the weekend. In their view, the decision reflects practical management rather than anything else. Public libraries in Brooklyn and Queens with demographics similar to ours are closed on Saturday and open on Sunday. However, those employees are trying to drum up artificial animosity by claiming the closure was designed to prevent people who aren’t Jewish from using the library.
These employees are out on a limb. They have no meaningful community support. They worked to elect the former director who tried to run for a trustee position this past election. However, she failed miserably. Her race was an embarrassment to her and her few supporters. Our community has spoken loudly. We reject the positions of the former director and support the current board enthusiastically. Those employees who keep trying to support the former director and undermine the board should recognize that they do not have our community’s support. The Board represents our community and is working hard for our community. If those employees are not happy working for our Board, they should find someplace else to work.
In addition, the Board is stepping up to the plate to ensure that our tax dollars are being used to benefit our community. Their newest initiatives are getting us books and programming that we want and can benefit from while giving us hours that meet our schedules and don’t waste our money. The employees criticizing the Board are simply selfish. At one of the meetings about the budget, they kept screaming about needing more and more money for their salaries. It seemed as if they couldn’t care less about anything else.
A considerable body of library scholarship and guidance from library organizations emphasizes that libraries should reflect the communities they serve. Collections, programs, and services should take into account the interests, history, culture, and needs of the local residents. The employees should be representative of their local communities. Libraries in African-American, Asian, Hispanic, and other communities strive for this ideal.
However, for reasons unbeknownst to us, Peninsula Public Library failed to take the local community into consideration in any of these areas. Not only that, the former leadership of the library refused to purchase books requested by the local community despite being presented multiple times with lists of books the local community desired. Their excuse for not purchasing the books, shockingly, was that “they were not on the bestseller lists.” How did we reach a point where a public institution is actively working against the interests of our community?
The current Board is trying to correct the injustices that were perpetrated on our community by the former library leadership. The fact that they are getting such strong opposition from some employees is a travesty. One has to wonder what is really the motivation of the former director and these employees. What are they hoping to gain by fighting the board so consistently? We can assume that the former director is angry at not having the cushy job she once had. But what do the employees gain by doing her dirty work? In the long run, it will only hurt them. Has the board harmed them in any way? These employees who have never shown up in board meetings are now rushing to get to the meetings hoping they can score points by screaming at the board and getting their union reps to harass the Board.
Our community should be applauding this Board. Completing a major infrastructure project for substantially less than the original proposal, seeking competitive bids, carefully reviewing expenditures, and working to ensure that the library serves our community are accomplishments that deserve recognition. The Board’s record demonstrates a return to thoughtful leadership, fiscal responsibility, and a commitment to serve both library patrons and the taxpayers who support the library.
Read more of Larry Gordon’s articles at 5TJT.com. Follow 5 Towns Jewish Times on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates and live videos. Comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome at 5TJT.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
