Peninsula Public Library must open the doors to all
Shelves at Peninsula Public Library, without a director since January. Credit: Newsday / Randi F. Marshall
For decades, the small, nondescript building in Lawrence burst with activity. Children finding new books. Adults joining dynamic programming. An enthused, nurtured staff eager to help.
"I always called it the little library that could," Carolynn Matulewicz told me, as we sat recently in Peninsula Public Library's children's section.
But Peninsula is no longer the little library with a jolly load, bringing books and puzzles to young children with smile and cheer.
Where new books should be, there are empty shelves. Carts are stacked with returns without enough staff to file them. Employees and residents, including Matulewicz, are sad, angry and worried for the future.
Matulewicz grew up in Lawrence, where Peninsula was her home library. She loved the "Madeline" books and reading became her passion. She raised her children there, and they, too, visited Peninsula.
After eight years as Peninsula's children's librarian, Matulewicz became director, serving a decade until her January retirement. Now 67, Matulewicz lives in Atlantic Beach, still in Peninsula's territory.
"It's very disheartening," she said. "This community deserves a better library. To see it being run down like this, it's heartbreaking."
The story of Peninsula Public Library is one of dysfunctional governance, power struggles, community infighting and disregard for state rules. Without a director, the library violates state minimum standards. With low morale and a lack of communication, more staff have left. Multiple trustees serve unelected terms. The board, led by its president, Akiva Lubin, has made controversial decisions, like ending Zoom programs and book donation efforts.
Just this week, the board announced a "last minute" meeting just hours before it was to start Monday, at which three trustees — without Lubin present — appointed a "librarian-in-charge." They were met with angry commentary from dozens of patrons.
Then there's the overarching issue: How the trustees choose whom they serve. Several moves appear to favor some Orthodox Jewish patrons at the expense of others, from closing Saturdays to expanding Jewish book collections while not purchasing other books. That rightly drew the ire of local government leaders, staffers and residents of all backgrounds, including Matulewicz, who isn't Jewish, and elected officials like Nassau County Legislature Presiding Officer Howard Kopel and State Assemb. Ari Brown, who are.
Said Cedarhurst resident Vivien Foldes, an Orthodox Jew: "It's so noninclusive, it's a disgrace."
The contentious dispute has turned ugly, as anonymous WhatsApp messages wrongly accused critics of antisemitism.
"At the last meeting, Board members were subjected to antisemitic rants when they tried to create initiatives that would help the local Jewish community," one message said. "Please come out in numbers so the meeting reflects the broader community and isn't dominated by antisemitic voices."
Such weaponization of antisemitism to undermine legitimate criticism is what Woodmere resident Chana Rochel Ross rightly calls a "chillul Hashem," an immoral action by a fellow Jew that disrespects the name of God.
Added Brown, who noted he's "the only yarmulke-wearing Republican" elected to the State Legislature: "Whether Black, white, Jew or Christian, everybody's united that what's happening with that board is unconscionable."
In emails, Lubin said he has "strong community support" and wants to provide "quality library service to the community."
But he hasn't shown it. Concerned residents fear the library will close for good. The state Education Department is demanding new elections next May. Others are seeking trustees' removal now.
Said former trustee Joseph Fuller, a library member for 70 years: "We need a fresh start — now."
It's difficult right now to envision an invigorated Peninsula, with full shelves, supported staff and a talented director. That future begins with the now-energized community. Perhaps they can be the engine, leading the little library that could.
I think they can.
Columnist Randi F. Marshall's opinions are her own.
Randi Marshall is a member of the Newsday editorial board.
