Library Expansion Project Moving Forward

By Erica Jackson

A major expansion project authored by the Smithtown Library is officially underway.  Since the start of spring, workers have been busy at two of Smithtown’s four buildings, demolishing, installing and fabricating walls, ceilings, and floors.

“We are definitely on schedule and on target to reopen buildings when originally anticipated,” said Robert Lusak, library director. 

The expansion projects kicked off this spring include a ground breaking ceremony at the Smithtown Library’s Commack branch and another at the site of the new Nesconset branch, the old Nesconset Armory.

“We felt we needed to do a ground breaking ceremony in each community,” said Lusak, “because each is just as important as the other.”

With that, Lusak said the community can expect two more groundbreaking ceremonies.  Ceremonies will take place this fall at both the Kings Park branch and at the main branch in Smithtown.

Because buildings must be closed for the various renovations, with the exception of the Nesconset branch, the library board opted to work on two building projects at a time to ensure that patrons would still have access to a library near their residence.  Lusak explained that, for example, while the Commack branch is closed, residents can still visit the Kings Park, Smithtown or Nesconset branches.  And when Kings Park and Smithtown are shut down, Commack and Nesconset will be open.

Lusak pointed out that the Nesconset library will only need to be shut down for a brief period of time to move its contents to its new location.  In other words, until the armory is refurbished, the Nesconset branch will remain open.  The library system, said Lusak will then be able to save about $150,000 a year in rental fees for the Nesconset branch and the nearby storage facilities it rents.

Since the groundbreaking ceremony in Commack, workers have gutted portions of the building to make room for a 3,000 square foot expansion. Once complete this fall, the location will feature new space for collections, a teen area, and a new children’s section, which will be able to house all sorts of children’s programing.

Over at the new Nesconset branch, which the library purchased for $1 from the Town of Smithtown several years ago, workers have installed a corrugated steel roof with skylights, established new concrete footings and brickwork, and added new windows and doors. 

“There is a lot of work involved,” said Lusak, of the armory site. “It was basically an empty shell with no electrical or plumbing. It was gutted.”

But despite the amount of work it will require to transform it into a brand-new library, complete with meeting rooms, study areas, children and teen space, and storage, Lusak contractors are getting it done.  And a grand opening is set for early 2011.

Lusak anticipates that some work will commence at the Smithtown main branch in August with the poring of foundation for a 6,000 square-foot expansion. “We want to take advantage of the warm summer months,” said Lusak.  However, the library will remain open until the spring of 2011 when the interior will be renovated to fit a new children’s room., teen space, and a large community room that will be able to accommodate additional programs.  “This is one of the larger projects,” said Lusak. “A lot is involved.”

The Kings Park project, however, said Lusak will be similar to the Commack expansion.  Like Commack, the Kings Park branch will see an addition of 3,000 square feet.  Once finished, in about 8 to10 months time, it will embody a new children’s room, a teen area and additional collection space.

“When all is said and done,” said Lusak, “all of the buildings will look seamless. You won’t be able to differentiate between the old part of the buildings and the new. All will have new light fixtures, carpeting and some furniture.”

The $21-million expansion of all four buildings was made possible, said Lusak via a March 2008 referendum, which voters approved overwhelmingly.  Property owners agreed, said Lusak to pay, on average, $50 extra a year in taxes for the expansion project.

Additionally, he said, the project is being funded by the NY State Dormitory Authority.

The construction portion of the project has been a long time in the making, said Lusak. After the referendum was approved, the library board worked to develop plans, obtain site plan approval from the Town of Smithtown and Village of the Branch, negotiate a project labor agreement, put plans out to bid, and hire T.G. Nickel and Associates of Ronkonkoma to see the projects to completion.

“They are more than qualified to get the job done,” said Lusak of T.G. Nickel and Associates.

To keep updated on the project, visit the Smithtown Library’s expansion update blog on its website, www.smithlib.org.