The Smithtown, New York, main library and a branch have been closed since early May after vandalism released asbestos into the stack area.
Vandals carved expletives into the ceiling, bringing asbestos down onto books and shelves, explained Director Peter Ward, who closed the main library at 6 p.m. on May 8 after the damage was discovered; the Commack Branch was closed the following day. Questions of whether the asbestos removal was subject to state bidding regulations held up the project for so long that town officials threatened in late June to reopen the facilities despite the library board’s warnings of danger. Russell Barnett, the town’s environmental director, suggested using a closed-stack system that would keep the public out of the affected areas, but trustees called that solution dangerous to employees.
However, Ward said, in a July 6 letter Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio told the library the asbestos removal would begin imminently. Work on the main library is expected to be finished by mid-October, with the branch scheduled for completion by mid-September.
Posted July 10, 2000.