Residents in Glen Head will be able to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their community library as it is nearing the end of its renovations.
A $12 million project to create a new Gold Coast Library is on schedule to be completed in July. The renovations come from the passage of a $10.8 million bond vote on Dec. 8, 2020. The library secured a 2.62-acre parcel for the new building, a testament to the community's commitment to fostering a vibrant library space.
The library, which was opened in 2005, was created after residents overwhelmingly voted in favor of the proposal in 2001.
"We purchased land, and we're building a whole new building," Mike Morea, the library's director, said. "The hope is to basically go from this building into that new building later in the summer."
Morea said they started looking for a bigger space as the library opened at its current location, a 4,400 square foot building in the Glen head train parking lot at Railroad Avenue. For the past 15 years, the library has been renting space on Railroad Avenue at close to a cost of $100,000 a year, according to Morea.
In addition, Morea added that residents faced parking difficulties due to the location of the library being in a transition lot. He explained that residents would park in the wrong spot and get a ticket.
The genesis of this ambitious project traces back to 2014 when the Gold Coast Public Library Board of Trustees began the quest for a new, centrally located site that would cater to the community's burgeoning need for expanded space for events and parking.
The library engaged H2M architects + engineers, a Melville-based engineering consultant, entrusting them with the task of conducting a feasibility study, programming, and schematic design for the new facility.
To maintain its central location in the town, the new library will be at 146 Glen Head Road, an eight-minute walk from the original location. In a 133-to-2 April vote, the original building was sold to Little Bumble Bee Daycare for $925,000, which will turn the space into a new daycare location. The deal will be finalized once the library is moved into its new space.
The one-story structure, spanning an expansive 11,000 square feet, will boast an open-floor plan, allowing for both visual supervision and future expansion while maintaining existing staffing levels. Adorned with shingle siding and cultured stone wainscotting, the building's exterior will pay homage to the cozy, coastal aesthetics of the current library and the historical resonance of the Glen Head community.
Inside, the library will feature modern amenities, including an expanded children's room, a dedicated teen area with a group study room, and community rooms designed to host larger and after-hour events. An outdoor reading garden, quiet study rooms, and ample windows for natural light will cater to various community needs. The new library is set to be equipped with energy-efficient HVAC, plumbing, and lighting fixtures, embodying a commitment to sustainability.
The new area increases the available space by 30 percent. Morea said it also will have dedicated parking and plenty of outdoor space. He added that there is abundant community interest in the new library.
"The feedback we're getting is exciting," he said. "I think people are excited to move to the new building. People do love this building. It is our first library here. But also, I think people are excited to get to the new space."
George Pombar, president of the Glen Head-Glenwood Civics Council, said the new library would become a cornerstone of the community. "The Library Board members have worked hard for years to achieve this goal, and they should be commended," Pombar said. "We look forward to the library's grand opening."
State Assemblyman Charles Lavine, who described himself as a lifelong supporter of libraries, added that the new facility "provides village residents with a library it can be extremely proud of. Not just as a place to get books anymore, modern libraries play a vital role in the community by hosting events and providing activities for people of all ages."
He concluded his statement by affirming that the new library is "exactly what the Glen Head community needs." Looking to the future, Morea spoke with excitement about the new facility, saying that most of the staff at the Gold Coast Library are looking forward to continuing the work they do on a daily basis.
"We're really excited to serve as a community; that's what we've always done," Morea said. "We feel that this space is going to help us to do that better. We're hoping everybody is as excited as we are, and they take advantage of the space."
