I am disturbed by the fact that the people of Great Neck have abandoned their Main Library. How many of you know that the staff is working without a contract, which is unconscionable in other districts?
How many of you know that our remarkable director, Jane Marino, in spite of her remarkable vision for Great Neck, has resigned?
Our library will be rudderless.
As it appears no one is searching for another director.
How many of you feel that the only important library is the branch you use?
There is only one system, the Great Neck system. You have to think of it as a whole.
And I have heard many who resent the Main library. They forget that it was the Main community who voted for the branches, who understood your needs and felt that far outweighed the monies it cost.
They voted with compassion and gave the branch to you. Now Main needs you, you who were supported in building your branch.
How many of you know that when someone leaves, through retirement or other means, positions are not discussed or replaced which adds to its demise.
How many of you are aware that you own the Main building and that the branches are merely rentals? If something broke in your home, would you neglect it?
Or your car when it needs repair? This is your investment and the community is not taking care of it.
It’s forgotten that the branches plus Main make up our system and that the whole is our library. And Main, which we own, is sadly in need of our healing hands, our intelligence and vision.
Come on, everyone of us! Let’s join hands and work as a community to re-establish Main’s direction. Main’s good health and let the divide that’s been separating us, melt away. We need each other to restructure Main.
We all have the same goal, an excellent library. Let’s get to work!
Muriel Harris Weinstein
Great Neck
