Q. Why do we need a new library?
There are many technological and structural advances that this structure can no longer accommodate. The new library will include many of the features the public has requested over the years as libraries have evolved. This will include more public meeting spaces, an auditorium, expanded children’s room and craft area, new dedicated teen area, larger adult reading spaces, private study rooms, digital learning labs as well as numerous public safety items that are required in new buildings such as fire sprinklers, handicapped accessible bathrooms and elevator.
Q. What is the square footage of the proposed new building?
The proposed new building is planned to be about 34,000 square feet. The current building is a bit under 20,000 square feet. The footprint will be about the same. The lower level will be completely excavated (it’s currently only 1/3), and there will be a complete first and second floor.
Q. What is the time frame for construction?
The entire process may take 2 ½ to 3 years from the date of approval of the bond to the day we walk in the door of the new library. The first part of this process will take 10 – 12 months to create the construction documents (drawings and specifications) and obtain all required approvals. Once all of the approvals are obtained, the library will proceed to bid the work publicly and enter into the construction phase. This phase is estimated to take 14 – 16 months. During the construction phase, the library will move to a temporary (local) location so we can continue to offer services.
Q. Will library users lose the use of the library during construction?
No, the Board of Trustees has made a commitment to continue library programs and services in a temporary facility. These negotiations will take place after the Bond vote.
Q. Where will this new library be located?
The Library will remain at the same address and location – centrally located to serve the community of Plainedge.
Q. Will there be increased parking?
There will be increased parking stalls and ADA accessible parking as well. We will also provide parking for electric vehicles.
Q. If the library is going to be ADA compliant why are there so many large steps from the first to ground floor?
The large amphitheater seating area at the center of the library is intended to allow the library to utilize the large center space for various programs and touch down space for patrons. The amphitheater will also incorporate space for our non-ambulatory patrons at both the main and lower levels, which will be accessible by a new ADA compliant elevator.
The entire new library will be ADA accessible for all features of it’s new spaces, inclusive from the point you enter the site for parking, to open circulation and egress paths, throughout, down to the restrooms. It is a priority of ours that this building is able to accommodate every patron in our community.
Q. If children’s and teens are on the second floor will there be emergency access?
The new library was designed with safety as a top priority. We will have means of egress on every floor and will take special precautions to make sure that our children are safe. There are three planned staircases from the second floor.
Q. How many people use the library?
Approximately 30,000 people have used the library in the last six months. That’s about 5000 per month!
Q. Will there be an increase in staff?
The building is intentionally designed with great sight lines. Great sight lines result in being able to help keep staff to a minimum and allows for increased safety as well. But we do expect some increase in staffing, as we increase the number of programs and activities available to our community.
Q. Will the new library result in an increased budget?
We anticipate growing the budget gradually, with a small increase, as we always have. We will be eliminating the ongoing large repair and maintenance costs associated with our existing building and taking advantage of a highly energy efficient new building that will help keep costs in check.
Q. What will be the cost of running the new library?
While it is difficult to establish a hard cost at this phase in our planning, as with many other libraries that have replaced their old buildings, the cost to run a new building vs. their old in many cases is negligible, and that is what we are anticipating here. This is a direct reflection of incorporating the latest technology into a new building and taking advantage of high efficiency mechanical and electrical systems, double pane insulated windows and high insulation values in the walls and roof, the use of natural daylight in lieu of artificial light during the day, to high efficiency water fixtures and so much more.
Q. Will there be solar?
There is a high possibility that the new building will indeed use solar panels. This depends on several factors that our architects and project managers will look into as we move forward.
Q. Will the café be an independent vendor?
We intend to hire a local vendor to support the cafe we have shown in the library to provide food and drink at a reasonable cost to our patrons in exchange for having their product in our library.
Q. Will bathrooms be sized for children in the children’s area?
The bathrooms in the Children’s area will have child sized fixtures as well as changing areas.
Q. Will the book collection grow?
We are not planning for growth in our book collection as our current collection meets the community needs. For those items we may not have, we do have access to a wealth of materials throughout the Nassau Library System. This is in keeping with our focus of the new library to provide more meeting, gathering, and programming spaces.
Q. Will there be better space for programs? More useful space for entertainment?
YES! That is one of the goals of this project. The community has been asking for spaces to meet – larger meeting rooms with more comfortable seating, a makerspace, quiet study spaces, spaces that can accommodate a job interview or a zoom meeting. We also need a dedicated space for teens and a larger, more flexible space for Children. We will also have an outdoor courtyard that can be used for outdoor programs for all ages.
Q. Will the new library be energy efficient?
The Plainedge Library is committed to making this new building as energy efficient as possible. To that end, we have joined the Sustainable Libraries Initiative and are following the steps to become certified. We are working with architects and project managers who are familiar with the LEED process and becoming LEED certified is one of our goals as well.
Our current building is incredibly energy inefficient. Energy standards from 1968 were very different than they are today. The windows, the lighting, fuel, use of alternative energy… we’re looking into it all.
Q. Can the amount of the bond be increased?
It cannot be increased once it is approved by the community. The new library will be built within the proposed budget. At no point will we come back to the community to ask for additional funds.
Q. Was the cost of inflation factored into the bond?
Yes. As developed by our professional team, they have accounted for increases over the next several years, during which our project is to be designed and built.
Q. How long will we be paying for this bond and what happens after that time?
It is a 30 year bond. When the bond is paid off, the community will no longer have the additional expense.
Q. How much will it cost?
The cost to a typical household will be $278 per year or $23 per month. This is based upon the complete project budget as follows:
TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET $25,635,434.00
Less funds from library’s capital fund -$2,000,000.00
TOTAL AMOUNT FINANCED VIA BOND $23,635,434.00
Q. When will the bond vote be held?
January 31, 2023.
Q. Where will the bond vote be held?
The vote will be held at the Library, 1060 Hicksville Rd., N. Massapequa, NY 11758, between the hours of 12:00 and 8:00.
Q. Voter registration information
NOTICE OF REGISTRATION. NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that, pursuant to Section 20l4 of the Education Law, personal registration of voters is required, and no person shall be entitled to vote at said meeting whose name does not appear on the register of said School District, or who does not register as hereinafter provided, except a person who is otherwise qualified to vote and is registered under the provisions of Article 5 of the Election Law. Voters registered for general elections under said Article 5 are eligible to vote at the January 31, 2023, election without further registration. The Board of Registration shall prepare a register for said special district meeting, except that the register prepared at the last annual meeting or election shall be used as the basis therefor, and shall include all persons who shall have presented themselves personally for registration and shall also include all persons who shall have been previously registered for any annual or special district meeting or election and who shall have voted at any annual or special district meeting or election held or conducted at any time within four calendar years prior to the preparation of said register.
NOTICE OF REGISTRATION. NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that Personal Registration for the special district meeting will be accepted at the Office of the Plainedge School District Clerk, at 241 Wyngate Drive, in North Massapequa, New York, throughout the year (except for the five (5) days preceding the special district meeting), between the hours of 9:00 A.M., and 3:00 P.M., Prevailing Time, Monday through Friday and any person shall be entitled to have his or her name placed upon such register, provided that he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of such Board of Registration, to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at said special district meeting to be held on January 31, 2023. The last day of registration before the special district meeting on January 31, 2023, will be Thursday, January 26, 2023. Said register will be filed in the office of the Plainedge School District Clerk, in said School District and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter on each of the five days prior to the day set for the special district meeting, between the hours of 9:00 o’clock A.M. and 3:00 o’clock P.M., Prevailing Time, except Saturday January 28, 2023 and Sunday, January 29, 2023 which days will be by appointment. The register will also be available for inspection on the date of the special district meeting at the polling place.
Q. Absentee Ballots
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that applications for absentee ballots may be applied for at the Office of the Plainedge School District Clerk, 241 Wyngate Drive, in North Massapequa, New York. Such applications must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than thirty (30) days before the special district meeting. Furthermore, such application must be received by said School District Clerk on the date seven days prior to the special district meeting, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or on the date prior to the special district meeting, if the ballot is to be personally obtained by the voter of his/her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely request for a mailed absentee ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address set forth in the application by no later than six (6) days before the special district meeting. Completed absentee ballots must be received by said School District Clerk not later than 5:00 P.M., Prevailing Time, on January 31, 2023, the date of the special district meeting. A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available in the Office of the School District Clerk on each of the five days prior to the day of the special district meeting, except Saturday, January 28, 2023 and Sunday, January 29, 2023 which days will be by appointment, and such list shall also be posted at the voting place during the special district meeting, and any qualified voter may challenge the acceptance of the absentee voter’s ballot of any person on such list, by making his challenge and the reasons therefor known to the Inspectors of Election before the close of the polls.
Q. Military Ballots
Military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the School District. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk of the School District no later than 5:00 pm. On January 5, 2023. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is (1) received in the office of the District Clerk before close of the polls at the special district meeting and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign county’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt of another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on the date of the special district meeting and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is associated to be not later than the day before the special district meeting.
Q. What happens if it snows?
In the event that School District schools must be closed on January 31, 2023, due to weather or other emergency, the Special District Meeting will be held on February 2, 2023.
