1969-07-03

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An Official Newspaper of The Incorporated Village of Farmingdale- Serving Greater Farmingdale, Bethpage and Melville
Vol. 6 No. 44 Second Class Postage has been paid at Farmlagdale, N. Y. 117SS Thursday, July 3, 1969
CLOSE MAIN LIBRARY FOR
SIX WEEKS DUE TO BUDGET
The Farmingdale Public Library Board of Trustees voted on
Tuesday to close down the main library completely and to cease book­mobile
service from July 2 to August 15 due to the June 11 and June 28
budget defeats. The library will operate on the same tax ap­propriation
of $ 352,865 budget as it has during the past two years. The
recent budget defeats called for sums of an additional $ 77,000 to
provide the same services as in past years.
Library Director Orrin Dow, had made the recommendation to
curtail the hours of opening from July 2 to August 15 due the lack of
funds and insufficient replacements during summer vacations. The
main library and the bookmobile will be completely closed down with
the branch library open on Monday's from 1 to 9 p. m. Tuesday
through Friday from 1 p. m. to 5 p. m. In order to make up the deficit at
the same time Dow recommended the abolition of the parttime
positions of seven librarians; 11 clerks and 11 pages.
On August 18, the main building would open Monday's from 1 to 9
p. m.; Tuesdays 12 noon to 5 p. m. Thursdays and Fridays 12 noon to 5
p. m. and no library service on Wednesday.
Before the vote was taken, Board President Robert Callahan ex­plained
that to sustain the same level of services as residents had
been receiving during past years, it would be necessary to operate on
a budget of $ 446,025.
Gorton suggested that instead of getting rid of the parttime per­sonnel,
the Board should eliminate the position of Assistant Director.
He said that to go from 68 to 28 library hours was ridiculous. None
went along with his recommendation.
Trustee Carl E. Gorton vigorusly objected to a talk delivered by
Library Director Orrin B. Dow at the American Library Association
conference held last weekend in Atlantic City. The subject was on the
theme of Freedom to Read and gave an account of what has happened
to the library since avowed members of the John Birch Society began
their objections to books. Dow summed it up by stating, '' What has all
this meant to the library service available in the community? There is
no question that books and magazines are not purchased because of
the problems that may arise. Even more significant, however, are the
onslaughts on the library budget. These have resulted in sizeable
cutbacks in the book purchases, laying off of personnel and shortening
of library hours. These are successful attacks upon the Farmingdale
Community's intellectual freedom of the first magnitude".
Gorton made a motion that a public hearing should be held so that he
could answer these charges. The motion was passed by a three to two
vote with Trustees Warren Altmann and Dr. Albert Meyerstein voting
with Gorton for the public hearing. No date was set.
During the course of the library board meeting, Dow asked that he
be made the official Farmingdale Public Library representative at
the opening of the New York State Historical Society's new library in
Cooperstown. He said that due to the defeat of the budget, he would
not ask for any reimbursement. At first Gorton said how generous,
then withdrew hi § support, because Dow might make another report
as he had made in Atlantic City. The motion was passed to send Dow
as the representative.
Robert Callahan was reelected Board President and Trustee
Warren Altmann, Vice President and newly elected Trustee Irwin
Jacovsky was elected Secretary.
No motion was made to resubmit a library budget to the voters at
this time. Trustee Gorton stated that " No trustee would have the
audacity to make a motion for resubmit on when the voters had
spoken so soundly". Trustee Jacovsky countered that such in-timinflation
should be eliminated from board discussions.
Considerable discussion took place about the construction of a
library mezannine for additional bookspace. Trustee Jacovsky said
that he favored the erection of the mezzanine and had said so
regardless of whether the building was purchased or not. He said that
it was in the interests of serving the public to have more books
available. Gorton said that storage of books could be done inex­pensively
by putting shelves around the community room in the South
Farmingdale Branch. Dow explained that storage was not the
problem, but to have the books readily accessible to the public.
Gorton said that he still wanted to see a second floor built on the main
library building. Callahan said the architect could review all
possibilities. The Board asked that the architect come in and talk with
the Board before the Board would authorize any further expenditure
for the architect on drawing up modified plans for a mezzanine. Dow
recommended that the architect draw up minimal plans. The fines
and fees account had been set aside three years ago for this purpose.
Trustee Altmann suggested that the account be used to supply more
library service. Callahan said that it would not even make up the
difference.
A proposal by Callahan to do away with the August meeting was
rejected by the rest of the board due to the library crisis. However,
Gorton and Altmann said that Dow should not come back from his
vacation at taxpayers expense as he did last year to attend the
meeting. The Assistant Director should attend instead, Gorton and
Altmann contended.
Oyster Bay Town Councilman Frank J. Hynes and Larry
Warehieme of 5 Allen Court, Farmingdale, leave Larry's home and
head for Eagle Seoul Dinner at the Garden City Hotel. Larry selected
Councilman Hynes as his guest for the annual event.