The long-awaited Gold Coast Library, located at 50 Railroad Avenue in Glen Head, has opened its doors. A celebration on Saturday, July 30 marked the event, as the 55th member of the Nassau Library System officially commenced operation.

Remarks by public officials, a brass band, plaques to honor some of those who worked to make the day possible, baskets of cookies and soft drinks in ice chests all preceded the official ribbon cutting that welcomed district residents into their very own library for the first time.

Board President Nancy Benchimol's opening greeting summarized the nature of the task. "There hadn't been a new library started in Nassau County in over 30 years," she said, "and no one really knew what we should do."

Master of Ceremonies John Canning introduced the speakers and guests who included State Senator Carl Marcellino (5th SD), Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, State Assemblyman Charles Lavine (13th AD), newly-elected Assemblyman Rob Walker (15th AD), Nassau Library Director Jackie Thresher, the citizens group that made possible the public referendum in 2001, and a group of young ladies, members of the Class of 2005 who, as fourth-grade members of Girl Scout Troop 61, had gotten the wheels rolling on the library project.

Indeed, the idea for the library came back in 1997, when those same Girl Scouts began to petition local residents and public officials, asking them how they might go about establishing a library for the "unserved" areas of the North Shore School District, which itself includes parts of Roslyn Harbor, Greenvale, Glen Cove, plus Glen Head, Glenwood Landing, and Old Brookville.

Eventually, a North Shore Citizens Committee for Library Service was formed. Then, in 2000, Gov. George Pataki signed legislation with authorized library referendum in New York State. On Dec. 4, 2001, residents in the North Shore district voted overwhelmingly to form the Gold Coast Public Library District. They also voted for a board of nine trustees and approved an annual budget of $800,000.

For the audience that gathered at the library on July 30, the real excitement came at the conclusion of the formal ceremony when the building was opened for tours. Hundreds lined up, some waiting for nearly an hour to tour the building hosted by the professional staff.

Cathleen Towey, library development specialist, had taken a leave last year from her position as director of the Westbury Public Library to accept the challenge of starting a public library from scratch. With the intention of developing a staff, floor layouts, furnishings, collection, computer networks, back room systems, activity programs, and a budget, just to name a few tasks, Ms. Towey had told the board she would start on Jan. 1, 2005 and get it done in 12 months or less. Seven months later, she led the first tour.

Genellen McGrath, recruited, begged and cajoled by Ms. Towey to partner in the effort, came to work part-time for a while, then accepted a full time position. Patrons will find her managing many operational aspects of the library, including reference. When there's a question that's got everyone stumped, you'll hear someone say, "Let's ask Genellen." Someone else will add, "Of course!" Ms. McGrath took the second group for a look.

Jeff Vasconi, head of children's services, invited the next group to first visit, naturally, the children's room.

Vasconi joined the faculty earlier this summer and, as the expression goes, has hit the ground running. Eager young readers signed up for the summer reading program and some of the youngest patrons were fortunate enough to fill available slots for two evenings of Books Before Bedtime. Before the afternoon's end, Mr. Vasconi was planning to add some more sessions to serve more children.

The inside of the Gold Coast Public Library elicited wide eyes, big smiles, and eloquent descriptions such as, "oh, wow," "nice" and "cool."

Walking in the front door, the circulation desk is to the right. To the left, a wraparound counter, soon to be installed, will allow visitors to have a seat and enjoy a selection from a coffee/tea/hot chocolate

machine.

The adult floor has a 16-foot ceiling, sort of a miniature of the main reading room at the New York Public Library (but without the famous frescoes). A periodical area, not yet available, will provide a comfortable and partly private space to leaf through magazines.

The children's floor has a story time alcove with a set of steps for 10 or 15 youngsters to gather. Each floor has wall-to-wall carpeting, but while the adult space has standard stock, the children's room has a pattern of stick figures, houses, sunbursts and rainbows, all in golden yellow and blue.

Each floor has about 2,000 square feet with a most inviting and cozy look and feel, reflecting the time, thought and imagination that went into the project.

With a bow to the 21st century, many of the more modern library users will find particular value in the "virtual" library, www.goldcoastlibrary.org.

Accessible from any Internet-connected computer, patrons may type in their Gold Coast Library card numbers to utilize a wide range of electronic resources.

And so the next chapter in the Gold Coast Public Library story has been written. It is already a success story, and time will only add sequels to the tale. Someday, perhaps, the story will be bound and sitting on a shelf, ready to be checked out by a new resident eager to read how the Gold Coast Public Library came to be.