Newsletter |
July/August 2008 |
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A Message from the Board President
Martin H. Sokol
It’s gratifying to be able to report good news, especially progress with two key issues facing our library, the choice of a new library director and renovation of the existing structure.
This past June the Board of Trustees met with Gossage Sager Associates, the executive search/management consultant company whom we have engaged to find a library director. The principals of this company flew in from Kansas City, Missouri to make their presentation. Our meeting lasted approximately two hours. Gossage Sager outlined plans to find qualified candidates, presented Trustees a time line to complete the search and stated by December, depending upon any required notice period, a new director should be available to begin work. The search for a new director involves placing ads in various nationally known publications, meeting with Great Neck Library staff, posting the position in various state and association placement centers, nationwide networking, and telephone contacts identifying qualified candidates. Gossage Sager will schedule and conduct all screening interviews. Ads for the position would be placed in the beginning of July. The cutoff date for applicants to submit resumes is September 21st. By the end of September Library Trustees will review resumes and the top five to seven candidates will be notified for interviews. Toward mid October two or three candidates will be selected for a second interview. By approximately the end of October, the final candidate should be identified followed by further negotiations, interview, background
checking, etc.
All trustees felt Gossage Sager were very experienced and well prepared. During the meeting the principals spoke about our community, and were fully aware of problems the Great Neck Library has had in retaining past directors. Their knowledge of Great Neck’s demographic makeup, and understanding of the concomitant changes that have taken place within recent past years impressed Trustees. Gossage Sager stated that our desire to build a new library building or renovate it would be enthusiastically received by candidates, and would be an added reason to be attracted to the position. The tone of the meeting was positive, optimistic and productive.
Regarding the library’s second key issue, the long awaited and long delayed library improvement/renovation, we have received a letter of intent from the Great Neck Water Sewer Authority for approval to negotiate a long term lease with the Great Neck Library permitting the library to park a
specified number of cars in the area contiguous to the library. This additional allowable space will increase parking approximately twenty five percent. During the last attempt to have plans approved for the library, additional parking was a major issue. Requests for proposals (RFP’s) have been mailed to architects throughout Long Island and New York City. Our library has received numerous responses. During the summer the Building Committee consisting of Chairman Andy Greene, Library Board President, Martin Sokol, Trustees Linda Cohen and Anna Kaplan will meet in executive session to evaluate all architects’ replies and subsequently make a recommendation to the entire Board of Trustees. In my last report I stated that by early next year our community should know what the new library would look like. It’s good to be optimistic but a true sense of reality is just as important. The optimism I feel is based on the fact that a majority of trustees are enthusiastic to finally get this elusive project started and completed quickly. Years and years have gone by with unnecessary delays. It’s about time the public be given the opportunity to vote for a referendum to resolve this issue. But first we must choose an architect.
On behalf of the entire Board of Trustees we wish you a healthy and pleasant summer. Martin H. Sokol
President, Great Neck Library
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