Stink Bomb Causes Emergency at Scarsdale Library
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The first “Finals Night” at the Scarsdale Public Library did not go as planned on Tuesday June 15, when a stink bomb was thrown into the library drop box around 7:00 pm. The odorous smell from the stink bomb got into the air conditioning system and took 30-45 minutes to permeate the library. Since concerned staff members were not able to locate the source of the smell they reported it to the fire department.
According to SHS Junior Zach Edelman who was studying at the library at the time, the stink bomb smelled like garlic and onions and the fumes were tolerable. However, once the report was made, emergency responders arrived in droves and forced everyone to leave the building and wait in the library plaza. As a few people felt ill, the area was taped off and those who had been inside were told that they could not leave the scene until Hazmat workers and the Health Department could investigate.
Edelman reports that the stink bomb incident was treated as a full-scale emergency. In addition to police cars there were fire trucks, Hazmat workers sporting gas masks and even an emergency spill team. The students waited 20-30 minutes for officials to arrive and were told that depending on the findings of the Hzamat team, those who were inside the library may have to be decontaminated and showered off.
Parents of the students drove to the library to pick up their kids but found Olmstead Road closed and were also told to wait for the results of the investigation. While 20-30 students and library staff waited outside, the emergency team determined that the bomb did contain an irritant. Before releasing the group around 9:45 pm, they cautioned those that had been inside the library to call 911 if they felt any discomfort or symptoms.
The library had been scheduled to stay open until 11 pm on Tuesday to accommodate students studying for final exams. But rather than prepare for their tests, the students spent their evening trapped in yellow tape.
Elizabeth Bermel, Director of the Library contacted Scarsdale10583 to say that the library will stay open Wednesday night until 11 pm as originally planned for Final Night and snacks will be served. She encourages students to come back and use the library to prepare for their tests.
Finals Nights at the Scarsdale Public Library
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On Tuesday, June 14, and Wednesday, June 15, the Scarsdale Public Library will inaugurate “Finals Nights” and extend its hours for high school students studying for final exams. The Library will remain open to only high school students until 11:00pm; low-cost snacks will be available for purchase. All proceeds will help support future activities of the Scarsdale Public Library Teen Advisory Board.
“We have seen this service offered at other libraries with great success, and when we mentioned it to our own Teen Advisory Board, they said it would be a great benefit to Scarsdale students,” said Barbara Josselsohn, the President of the Scarsdale Library Board of Trustees. “We know how stressful finals can be, and we are very happy to give high school students some extra time at the library during Finals Week, where they will be able to study quietly, study in groups, and also take a break and enjoy a snack.”
“The teens have expressed a desire to use the Library to study alone and in groups, and the hours and shared space in the Library aren’t always ideal for these students,” said Library Director Beth Bermel. “We thought it would a great idea to just let them have the whole Library to themselves for a couple of hours when they really need it.”
“I am always overwhelmed by the amount of studying I have to do for finals,” Scarsdale high school junior, Greta Miconi, stated. “I look forward to having the Library’s finals nights this year because having a quiet place to go will definitely allow to me study more efficiently.”
What Your Neighbors Are Reading
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If you’re looking for a good book to read or listen to or a film to watch, look no further than your Scarsdale neighbors.They are an active group of 
library-goers, who borrow books and movies from the library and use the new free download service to get audio books. Here’s a list of their most popular choices. If you have a suggestion, please share what you’re reading in the comments section below.
What Scarsdale is Reading:
Fiction:
- Fifth Witness – Michael Connelly
- Paris Wife – Paula McLain
- Fifth Man – David Baldacci
- Save Me – Lisa Scottoline
- I’ll Walk Alone – Mary Higgins Clark
Non-Fiction:
- Bossypants – Tina Fey
- Unbroken: a World War II Airman’s Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption - Lauren Hillenbrand
- The Social Animal: A Story of Love, Character and Achievement – David Brooks
- Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust – Diana Henriques
- Money and Power: How Goldman Sachs Came to Rule the World – William Cohan
What Scarsdale is Watching:
- The King’s Speech
- The Tourist
- Love & Other Drugs
- Blue Valentine
- Fair Game
What Scarsdale Is Downloading:
Fiction:
- The Help – Kathleen Stockett
- The Confession – John Grisham
- A Visit from the Goon Squad – Jennifer Egan
- The Finkler Question – Howard Jacobson
- Worth Dying For – Lee Child
Non-Fiction:
- Outliers: the Story of Success – Malcolm Gladwell
- I Still Dream About You – Fannie Flagg
- Just Kids: from Brooklyn to the Chelsea Hotel – Patti Smith
- All the Devils Are Here: the Hidden History of the Financial Crisis – Bethany McLean
- Unbroken -a World War II Airman’s Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption - Lauren Hillenbrand
- I Remember Nothing: and Other Reflections – Nora Ephron
Big Truck Tuesdays at the Scarsdale Public Library
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On Tuesday, May 24th, the Scarsdale Public Library held the annual Big Truck Tuesday. Big Truck Tuesday has once again proved to be an excellent tradition, with a great turnout this year. Participants of all ages came to the Library to see the different trucks supplied by the Scarsdale Highway Department and at the end of the day enjoyed ice cream from the ice cream truck. Whether they were going in the trucks and honking the horns, or watching as they wore hats and stickers which they received as prizes, the participants all had an exceptional time. Big Truck Tuesday will be held again on May 31st at 4:00 in the Library parking lot. The event would not be possible without the Friends of the Scarsdale Library, who provided the ice cream as well as other support. Robbie Sturdivant from the highway department was, as always instrumental in organizing and participating in the event along with Frank Cipriano, Dexter Kirton, Duane Downey, Steve Giorgio and Michael Keating.
Scarsdale Library To Receive $111,000 Grant
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Good news for Scarsdale. … the Scarsdale Public Library will receive an $111,280 library construction grant for improvements of the library’s HVAC system. The grant monies are from the $14 million in capital funds that were made available for public library construction in the 2010 State Budget.
“I strongly supported the Library’s request for a construction grant,” said Senator Oppenheimer, who wrote to the NYS Library System on behalf of Scarsdale’s grant application. “The heating/cooling roof top unit that services a portion of the library has well exceeded its life expectancy of 25 years. I was stunned to learn that when the unit fails, which it does with some frequency, a library staff member is required to climb onto the roof to restart the unit manually. This library construction grant will be instrumental in creating a more energy efficient, comfortable and productive space for library patrons and staff members,” said the Senator.
The Scarsdale Public Library ranks second in circulation per capita and third in circulation per hours opened in the Westchester Library System (WLS). The library is open to residents (population 17,800) and non-residents alike, and like many other public libraries has experienced increased usage in the current economic environment. Students, job seekers and residents from Scarsdale and surrounding communities visit the library to access books and other research materials and to use the library’s technology services.
“New York’s public libraries are in urgent need of renovation and upgrading,” observed Senator Oppenheimer. “With public library usage at an all-time high, existing library facilities in my district have been stretched to the breaking point.”
