Southold Library Expansion Back on the Books

Facing the shift of information from print to digital and online sources, some Southold residents are balking at a proposal to raise taxes to fund an elaborate expansion of the historic Southold Free Library.

At last Wednesday's informational meeting on the long-debated plan — a $7.25 million project conceived in 2005 and made available for public evaluation in 2008 – audience members questioned the wisdom of investing that kind of money into a library during a time when e-reading devices such as the iPad and Kindle are forcing big-name booksellers like Borders to close stores.

"People come into the library for different reasons, and it's the library's mission to serve the community's needs as they arise," said library director Caroline MacArthur. "And if people want to come in here to read books on portable reading devices and computers, that's fine — we will accommodate. But we are not seeing that trend as much as booksellers are at this time."

The library expansion, based on a 20-year projection, will hike property taxes on an average home about $115 per year for 20 years — if a $6 million bond needed to finance the project is passed on Oct. 16.

The expansion's modern design includes an energy-efficient glass atrium that will connect the east side of the original 1891 building — which began as a bank before becoming a library in 1928 —  to a new structure, complete with two rooftop greenspaces. Renovation work to the original building and expanded parking are also included in the cost, part of which library trustees plan to pay for by raising at least $1.25 million over the next three years.

If the proposal passes, the cramped library will have more space for books, computer terminals, meeting rooms, expanded circulation desk and reference areas, office space and rooms for children and young adults by the spring of 2012.

Southold resident Don Wagner questioned the need to expand library services to children and teenagers since enrollment at Southold school district has decreased from a little over 1,000 in 2009 to 890 this year.

MacArthur said that despite the school's population decline, "we're selling our library services that much better, and more teens are using the library."

With interest rates and construction costs holding relatively low, MacArthur added that she and the board of trustees felt that now is the time to reinvent the Southold Free Library. MacArthur said in an interview later that the response to the expansion from the community as a whole has been more positive than negative.

"If I had 30 people at that meeting who were outspoken against it, then I'd be nervous," she said. "But there were only two or three."

At the meeting, Southold resident Rob Devito said that the project, though well-intended, is "simply too much money."

"We have a lot of people here on social security and fixed incomes," he said. "I think this is going to be a big hurt for them."

Upcoming informational meetings at the Southold Free Library: Thursday, Sept. 30, 10 a.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m. Voting takes place on Saturday, Oct. 16 at the library.