Mattituck-Laurel Library to hold $5.5M bond vote on Tuesday - Newsday
Voters in Laurel and Mattituck will weigh in on a $5.5 million bond proposal on Tuesday for renovations at the Mattituck-Laurel Library — the first major overhaul in 25 years.
Shauna Scholl, the library's executive director, said the project addresses major infrastructure repairs but mainly reshapes how the nearly 15,000-square-foot building functions.
“We’d like to change the layout of the building a little bit and make it a little more conducive to current use and future use for where the library is going,” Scholl said in a recent interview.
The bond would add about $77 to annual tax bills for the average home assessed in the district, according to the library.
The plan calls for replacing the roof and outdated HVAC and plumbing systems and reconfiguring the library's layout to create more public spaces, including meeting rooms. The idea is to improve the patron experience and incorporate new technology.
Among the most significant changes is adding a 2,142-square-foot second story over the main circulation area that would include staff offices, an art gallery, public seating areas and new community meeting space.
Adding more public meeting areas is a key part of the vision, Scholl said.
Demand for meeting rooms has surged in recent years. Last year there were 607 bookings to use the rooms, up from 432 in 2023 — a 40% increase, library data shows. Scholl said demand continues to rise from groups ranging from crochet and fishing clubs to homeowners associations, civic groups and tutors. Currently, there are only three meeting spaces on the library's lower level.
Sometimes study groups and other informal meetings are asked to shuffle around as other clubs reserve the space.
“We love that everybody’s using the space, but it’s just not working for us,” Scholl said.
The new layout includes four community meeting spaces, plus new private tutor rooms.
Two meeting rooms would be combined to form a larger “learning lab” that would include a maker space and test kitchen, allowing the library to offer more of their popular cooking programs.
On the main floor, four new quiet study rooms are proposed along with a new 465-square-foot area for teenagers, which will be nearly double the size of a current area that's cordoned off for teens. Scholl said the proposed teen space will be enclosed. “It’s got windows and doors, we can keep an eye on them but they can be loud, and they’re not disturbing the adult patrons,” she said.
Other improvements, including a new entryway, energy efficient lighting and increased accessibility are also part of the plan, along with new carpets, paint and furnishings.
The proposal is based on a 2016 facility assessment that outlined necessary upgrades. The library also relied on the results of a 2023 community survey.
If approved, officials say construction should take 18 months to complete. The library would operate at a smaller capacity off-site during the renovation period.
Scholl said she is optimistic that voters will support the plan despite current economic unease.
“Supporting the library is supporting your community,” Scholl said. “We're not trying to make this a vanity project. It’s more about positioning the building and our services so we can continue for another 30 years.”
The bond vote is scheduled for Tuesday. Voting will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Mattituck-Laurel Library, 13900 Main Rd., in Mattituck.
Voters in Laurel and Mattituck will weigh in on a $5.5 million bond proposal on Tuesday for renovations at the Mattituck-Laurel Library — the first major overhaul in 25 years.
Shauna Scholl, the library's executive director, said the project addresses major infrastructure repairs but mainly reshapes how the nearly 15,000-square-foot building functions.
“We’d like to change the layout of the building a little bit and make it a little more conducive to current use and future use for where the library is going,” Scholl said in a recent interview.
The bond would add about $77 to annual tax bills for the average home assessed in the district, according to the library.
The plan calls for replacing the roof and outdated HVAC and plumbing systems and reconfiguring the library's layout to create more public spaces, including meeting rooms. The idea is to improve the patron experience and incorporate new technology.
Among the most significant changes is adding a 2,142-square-foot second story over the main circulation area that would include staff offices, an art gallery, public seating areas and new community meeting space.
Adding more public meeting areas is a key part of the vision, Scholl said.
Demand for meeting rooms has surged in recent years. Last year there were 607 bookings to use the rooms, up from 432 in 2023 — a 40% increase, library data shows. Scholl said demand continues to rise from groups ranging from crochet and fishing clubs to homeowners associations, civic groups and tutors. Currently, there are only three meeting spaces on the library's lower level.
Sometimes study groups and other informal meetings are asked to shuffle around as other clubs reserve the space.
“We love that everybody’s using the space, but it’s just not working for us,” Scholl said.
The new layout includes four community meeting spaces, plus new private tutor rooms.
Two meeting rooms would be combined to form a larger “learning lab” that would include a maker space and test kitchen, allowing the library to offer more of their popular cooking programs.
On the main floor, four new quiet study rooms are proposed along with a new 465-square-foot area for teenagers, which will be nearly double the size of a current area that's cordoned off for teens. Scholl said the proposed teen space will be enclosed. “It’s got windows and doors, we can keep an eye on them but they can be loud, and they’re not disturbing the adult patrons,” she said.
Other improvements, including a new entryway, energy efficient lighting and increased accessibility are also part of the plan, along with new carpets, paint and furnishings.
The proposal is based on a 2016 facility assessment that outlined necessary upgrades. The library also relied on the results of a 2023 community survey.
If approved, officials say construction should take 18 months to complete. The library would operate at a smaller capacity off-site during the renovation period.
Scholl said she is optimistic that voters will support the plan despite current economic unease.
“Supporting the library is supporting your community,” Scholl said. “We're not trying to make this a vanity project. It’s more about positioning the building and our services so we can continue for another 30 years.”
The bond vote is scheduled for Tuesday. Voting will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Mattituck-Laurel Library, 13900 Main Rd., in Mattituck.
