East Hampton Zoning Board Hates Poor Kids

clipped from www.schoollibraryjournal.com Library Director Dennis Fabiszak has said that the East Hampton Village Board of Zoning Appeals has expressed concern that an expanded children’s collection would lead to more library usage by those who live in the less affluent areas of Springs and Wainscott. the village zoning board is still requiring that the library submit to an environmental review despite a statement from the consul for the New York State Department of Environmental Conversation (NYSDEC) stating that the library is an “educational institution” and according to regulations is exempt from such a review.  The planning process has cost the library $200,000 and the dispute with the zoning board has added an additional $60,000 expense. Despite the disagreement with the village government, its celebrity-laced community supports the library. On August 8, Alec Baldwin, Candace Bushnell, and Jay McInerney will host will be joined by more than 100 other authors to support the library expansion at an Authors’ Night.

Also interesting in this case is that the East Hampton Village Library is chartered by the state to serve all three communities: East Hampton, Springs, and Wainscott.