Great Neck Library to hold in-person elections on Oct. 26

Dan Offner
Great Neck Library officials said they have been cautious about reopening their doors to the public. (Photo by Janelle Clausen)

The Great Neck Library Board of Trustees decided at a meeting on Tuesday night to hold elections in person this year on Oct. 26.

“Personally I am in favor of having in-person voting,” board President Weihua Yan said. “I’m concerned that mail-in only will not be sufficient to reach that threshold.”

Board Vice President Liman Mimi Hu said that usually for mail-in ballots the turnout is three to four times higher than in-person.

Trustee Chelsea Sassouni agreed with Yan, adding that she is not sure if there is enough time to allow voting by proxy.

“I do not expect a large turnout,” Sassouni said. “There’s a lot of room to social distance.”

Polls will open on Monday, Oct. 26, at the Main and Parkville branches from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information visit the Great Neck Library at greatnecklibrary.org.

In light of COVID-19, library officials and staff have been cautious about reopening to the public.

Tracy Van Dyne, acting director of the Great Neck Public Library, said that when the Parkside branch reopened in June, it was very busy.

“It got a little crazy at one point,” Van Dyne said. “We’ve opened up to appointments only at this point.”

Library officials said that they are also working with the local schools to try and help them in any way they can as they begin the new school year.

However, some residents feel the process is not happening fast enough.

Ralene Adler, a 44-year resident of Great Neck, asked the Board of Trustees on Tuesday night why other North Shore communities, such as Port Washington, Hillside, Syosset and Jericho, have allowed patrons inside for up to 45 minutes of browsing while Great Neck has not.

“You should see the services [other North Shore communities] are getting from the library and they don’t have a $10 million budget,” Adler said. “Great Neck schools are open. They’re safe. There are no problems. If parents are hesitant they don’t have to go.”

Yan said that the concern with reopening the library has to do with maintaining social distancing and CDC regulations in order to ensure the safety of the staff and public.

“We have to reevaluate as the situation changes,” Yan said. “We can’t make everyone happy.”

The Main, Lakeville, Station and Parkville branches are open for 15- and 30-minute appointments Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. To book an appointment visit greatnecklibrary.org/partial-reopening. Curbside pickup of items is also available.

During the meeting, the Board of Trustees appointed Michelle McCauley to the position of senior children’s librarian II.

The board also briefly discussed its continued efforts to find a new library director and presented a series of proposed changes to the board’s policy.

According to Hu, the changes aim to “attract a new director and keep the director that we hire.” She added that the board is seeking input from industry professionals to establish new and better practices.

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