New Wantagh Public Library Director Has Many Goals

Just over a month after being appointed as the new director for the Wantagh Public Library, Margaret Marino is bringing forth a get-it-done attitude, a positive outlook on how advancements in technology can aid the library system and a desire to bring the community together.

Marino arrives in Wantagh after previously serving as coordinator of adult services and head of community services at the Freeport Library. She replaces John Bosco, who was suspended by the library last year for insubordination and subsequently fired.

Marino said her experience in Freeport taught her a lot about how to run a library, but added that the kind of personality she has makes her a perfect fit for hew position in Wantagh

"I think that I am a take-charge person," said Marino, who completed a certificate program in library management to prepare for the position. "I see things that need to get done and I do them. At my previous job in Freeport, the library director was very open with his knowledge and allowed me make decisions."

Marino has a list of goals, some short-term and some that will be for the long run, and is getting started on them right away. Some of her short term goals include reaching out to the community to find ways that the library can better serve them and going out to meet the many businesses and organizations in Wantagh.

One of her top short-term goals, though, is improving the library's service to the community. " I want [the community] to know that I welcome their suggestions," said Marino. "I want them to tell me what they would like the library to be and do for them and I want them to know that I support their endeavors."

As for the long-term, Marino said that she wants "to make the library a part of people's lives in our technologically-savvy world and for the library to be a community center."

Although technology may deter some people away from the library with the amount of information that can be found online, Marino explained that technology actually aids the library system and she welcomes the change.

"Technology is helping us to do our jobs better," she said. "It increases our options in finding information and helping people get the information that they need."

"When my son was little, I was thinking about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I thought about what type of person I am and what makes me happy. What makes me happy is helping people and I thought that I could help people and make others happy through my service at the library," Marino said.