HHH Community Library Releases Proposed Budget

The trustees are presenting a proposed 2011-12 budget with a 1.67 percent increase.

Director Michele Lauer-Bader said, "We are committed to maintaining the Half Hollow Hills as a library of excellence at a reasonable cost."

The day to vote? Tuesday, April 5,  from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.  at the Dix Hills branch. 

But first: Voter registration will be this Thursday, March 24, at the Dix Hills branch, from 9:30 a.m. 9 p.m.

The library will be holding a public information meeting and "Meet the Candidate" night next Monday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m., also at the Dix Hills branch.

Who's running? Renee Steinig is the incumbent trustee and she is running unopposed for the 2011-16 term. 

Who is she? Steinig has been a Half Hollow Hills Community Library trustee since 1993 and currently serves as vice president of the board. In addition, she served for six years as a trustee of the Suffolk Cooperative Library System -- involvement that broadened her awareness of the fiscal, technological, and service issues facing Long Island libraries. A member of the American Library Association and several other library advocacy groups, she has frequently lobbied in Albany on behalf of state aid for Long Island’s libraries.

Steinig said, "My passion for libraries began in an overcrowded, underfunded  NYC elementary school, where my sixth grade class met -- and staffed-- the school library. Since then, my work as a professional researcher has led me to use and appreciate libraries around the world."

Active in a number of community organizations, she is a long-time trustee of the Dix Hills Jewish Center and a past president of the Half Hollow Hills H.S. East PTA. She is also past president and a current officer of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island.

Steinig, her husband and two daughters moved to Dix Hills in 1978.

When asked what a library trustee does, Steinig answered: "People often ask -- mostly jokingly! -- whether library trustees pick out the books. No, we are not involved in the day-to-day details of running our library.  Our responsibilities include setting policy, hiring the director (who is responsible for those day-to-day details), establishing an annual budget, and approving expenditures and contracts. Some of the bigger issues we've dealt with recently have been new technology and building improvements -- a new roof, HVAC system and parking lot for the Dix Hills building and (beautiful) interior renovations of the Melville building."

The Library Board has five trustees, each serving a five-year term. The terms are staggered, so one seat is up for election annually. Recent elections were contested (three candidates last year, two in 2009, three in 2008) but Steinig is running unopposed.

Steinig said, "I am honored to serve on the Half Hollow Hills Community Library Board of Trustees and look forward to the opportunity for continued service in the future."

Board of Trustees: Martha Graham, Renée Steinig, Marguerite Jones, Larry Bloomstein, Bruce Gordon.

Director: Michele Lauer-Bader; Assistant Director: Alicja Feitzinger; Editor: Karen Cognato.

Absentee Ballots: Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained at the Library or at our web site: hhhlibrary.org. For additional information, please telephone (631) 421-4530 ext 350.