Island Trees Library Trustee Candidate: Laurence H. Brown

Editor's Note: Below is the bio of Island Trees library trustee candidate Laurence H. Brown.

“Knowledge is free at the library: just bring your own container.”

This anonymous quotebest describes how I feel about the library, and why I want to serve my community bysitting on the library board.

As a master special education teacher in Northport, withover twenty years of experience of teaching at all levels, I understand the role the library plays in the education of our youth. I currently work with the most at-risk students who are suspended from school.

The public and school libraries are their last link to knowledge. Our Island Trees library has similar online resources: have you traced your heritage with Heritage quest, or looked up what happened on your birthday with the New York Times database? 

We are fortunate also to have a library that continues to educate all of us through programs geared to all stages of life. If elected to the board, I would like to see that continue.

The reason we have such wonderful programs is the staff at the library. Living in the small municipality we do allows us to get to know one another on a more personal level.

When my wife and I first moved to Island Trees some seven years ago we immediately recognized this. Since our son was born four years ago, we have been going to the library several times a week. We have gotten to know the staff and fostered personal relationships with them and other patrons because of our visits.

Because of the declining economy the library has been forced to cut back on its hours. I am confident that as the economy continues its turnaround we can restore our library to its previous level of service.

I have experience with hiring aides, teachers, principals and chairpersons. I have experience with formulating budgets on a program and school wide basis. During my sixteen years at East Northport Middle school I served as union representative for three of those years, and as such, understand how to settle disputes between parties in a calm and fair fashion.

I have spent time on curriculum committees steering the path of education for our students and learned to be a leader at times and pragmatic at others. I have spent my adult professional life in service through education and look forward to bringing my experience to serve the community of Island Trees.