Library Board Discusses Going Green

Ligero Energy Consultant Bruce Serkes, an East Meadow native, has been pushing for the Library to adapt to a greener source of energy, and Serkes says that putting solar panels on top of the library's roof would go a long way in doing so.

According to Serkes' proposal, the cost of the panels and installation would be funded by a third party, and all the library would have to do is agree to an energy contract with Green Power Solutions for 20 years at a substantially discounted rate.

"It's definitely something that's worth exploring," Trustee Henry Olshin said at the East Meadow Public Library board meeting on September 1.

The board intends to invite Serkes and a member of the company that plans to fund the installation to its Oct. 6 meeting.

Notebook

• Nylink, which allows the library to subscribe to various database titles at a discounted rate, will be closing its doors at the end of June, 2011. It is part of the State University of New York, and has operated as a self-funded entity serving libraries throughout New York State. According to the Executive Director, "the revenue just isn't there any longer, and we have no choice but to wind down operations."
• The library will continue to take taxes from the school district.
• The payroll and bills list were approved.
• No donations were made this month.
• The New York State Council on the Arts provided a $13,400 grant for the Sunday concert series, and the Independent Film series for the year 7/1/10 – 6/30/11 and the library was also awarded $2000 for the Picturing America Programming Grant awarded by ALA. 
• The Delivery Door in the Library was replaced.
• Wi-Fi upgrade was completed on Aug. 18. The entire library now has wireless internet capability.