The Peninsula Library Deserves Better: A Call for Transparency and Accountability
By: Howard J Kopel
The Peninsula Public Library is one of the most important public institutions serving the Lawrence–Cedarhurst–Atlantic Beach community. Despite its modest size, Peninsula has the highest circulation of any library in Nassau County. It serves a highly educated, reading-oriented community that has long valued literacy, learning, and access to information.
That is why the library’s current condition should concern every resident.
Unfortunately, the library has fallen under the control of a small group of mostly unelected individuals whose actions are not aligned with the best interests of the institution or its patrons. In recent years, the Board amended its By-Laws in ways that effectively allow trustees to avoid elections. Of the five current trustees, three were appointed to fill unexpired terms, appointments that appear inconsistent with New York Education Law §260, which requires that such vacancies be filled at the next annual election.
The consequences of this governance breakdown are now painfully visible:
The library has been without a Director since January 2026, despite more than 5 months of notice prior to her departure. The Assistant Director position is also vacant. Without professional leadership, book ordering and essential operations have stalled. I heard from constituents about empty shelves, long waits for materials, and overburdened staff. My own family, heavy library users, has increasingly found it necessary to rely on neighboring libraries.
Staffing has dropped from 22 employees to just 12, many of whom are demoralized and seeking other employment.
The elevator was out of service for nearly a year, limiting access for patrons with disabilities, and raising serious ADA compliance concerns.
Several Board meetings have been held without proper public notice, restricting attendance, and violating New York’s open meetings law.
At a chaotic August 13 meeting, the Board announced—over strong public objection—that the library would close on Saturdays. This decision disproportionately harms working families, students, and seniors who may have only Saturdays available to visit the library. Reducing Saturday access at a heavily-used library is difficult to reconcile with the institution’s responsibility to serve the entire community. Finally, light attendance on Saturdays helps an overburdened staff catch up.
State and Nassau library officials have repeatedly warned the Board to comply with state law and regulations. These warnings have gone largely unheeded, placing the library at risk of losing state funding and facing potential removal of the Board by state authorities. This has already been threatened by the state.
Efforts by previous Boards to secure a new, modern facility, long recognized as essential due to Peninsula’s heavy usage, appear to have been abandoned.
These are not merely technical questions. Public institutions work best when those who govern them are accountable to the public they serve.
Some Board members have attempted to justify these actions as cost-saving measures. This claim does not withstand scrutiny. Library taxes represent only 1–2% of local property tax bills, typically just a few hundred dollars per year. Closing on Saturdays, failing to order books, and reducing staff produces negligible savings while inflicting significant harm on the community. A new facility, financed over many years, remains a critical need.
When I attempted to discuss these issues with Akiva Lubin, the current (unelected) Board Chair, he insisted that all actions were legal and appropriate. Even if they were legal (and I do not believe they are) they are certainly not appropriate.
I am working with Assemblyman Ari Brown and Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick to seek appropriate action and accountability. Ultimately, the people who fund and use the Peninsula Public Library deserve a voice in how it is governed. The library belongs to the public; it deserves leadership that remembers that.
I urge the Board to step aside and allow the community to elect trustees who will honor the public trust rather than consolidate personal authority. If the Board refuses, state officials have already indicated they may intervene. Public engagement will strengthen that effort.
Please join me along with Assemblyman Brown and Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick in demanding immediate change. I welcome your comments at [email protected] and will ensure they reach the appropriate authorities.
Howard J Kopel is a legislator from Nassau County District 7.
