Killer Bees Present and Past Will Support Hampton Library Revitalization Effort in Charity Alumni Game Friday Night

UPDATE:

Bridgehampton School Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly announced on Thursday that the “Bees for Books” charity alumni game, set for Friday, April 4, was cancelled, with the school and Hampton Library hoping to reschedule the event at a later date still to be determined.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Public schools and public libraries may be two of the most important pillars in any community.

In Bridgehampton, they’re coming together this weekend in support of a good cause.

On Friday night, the Bridgehampton School will host “Bees for Books,” a charity basketball game featuring the current Killer Bees varsity boys basketball team — fresh off an appearance in the New York State Class D Championship game — against a squad of Bridgies alumni, some of whom were members of state championship basketball teams back in the day.

The game, set for 6 p.m. at the Bridgehampton School gym, is a fundraiser for the Hampton Library, which is undergoing a $2 million renovation campaign.

In addition to the game — sure to be a hotly contested battle, given the school’s rich basketball tradition, which includes numerous state championships — there will be a halftime free-throw shooting contest featuring Hampton Library librarians and staff, as well as other surprise local “celebrities.” Spectators can also purchase tickets for a 50/50 raffle.

Tickets for the game are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Children under 5 are admitted free of charge. All proceeds will go toward the library project.

The library is currently about halfway to its fundraising goal of $1 million, and will complete the project in two phases, the first of which is set to start in the fall. During that phase of the renovation, the library will be forced to close for six or seven months, starting in mid-September. Hampton Library Director Lisa Michne said that the library was still trying to scout out a temporary location to move into during that time, so it can continue to offer vital services to residents while the main building is closed for the first phase of work.

The Hampton Library has a rich tradition in Bridgehampton. It opened in 1877, after one founder put up the money to purchase a lot on Main Street, while another provided funding for the building and the books. Many prominent families in Bridgehampton and Sagaponack with recognizable last names — Rogers, Gardiner, Huntting, Hedges, Havens, Young — had a hand in creating and supporting the library in its early days. The library has remained a mainstay of the community, growing and evolving with the times.

The last major renovation took place 15 years ago, and since then, a lot has changed in a short period of time. The library district has grown by 75 percent during that time, and the needs of the community have evolved as well. To meet those needs, the library project will undertake extensive interior renovations and refurbishment, without expanding the footprint of the building.

The Joyce Goldman children’s room will be updated, with expanded shelf space for books — including a parenting section — age appropriate interactive technology, a new “tweek nook” for children still too young for the library’s young adult area, new carpeting and furniture, a movable acoustic partition to address noise issues, an updated outdoor entrance and more.

The Arlene and Alan Alda Young Adult Room will be expanded to more than double its current size, with new furniture and the incorporation of new technologies. The Arlene and Alan Alda Literacy Room will also be expanded and upgraded to meet the needs of the growing crowds for ESL classes, educational study, and Zoom meetings. The project will also include workspace and office improvements at the reference and circulation desks as well as the director’s office.

A large portion of the funds will be devoted to general building upgrades and technology enhancements, from new furniture and carpeting to A/V upgrades, energy efficient lighting and more.

The idea for the alumni basketball game fundraiser to help support all those renovations and bring more awareness to the community about the project was a group effort, led by not only Michne but Bridgehampton School Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly and Athletic Director Mike DeRosa, as well as former John Jermain Library Director Catherine Creedon.

Michne said support from the community for the local library is always key, especially when it is undergoing renovations to meet growing needs, and even more so in the current political climate. On March 31, the Trump administration placed the staff of the Institute of Museum and Library Services on administrative leave, setting the stage for potentially ending the main source of federal support for the country’s museums and libraries.

The move came two weeks after President Donald Trump issued an executive order naming the independent agency as one of seven that should be “eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law,” according to The New York Times.

Michne explained that while Hampton Library does not directly receive federal funding, any grants it applies for are filtered through that agency, and state funding that the library does receive is filtered through that agency as well, and added that the move could threaten vital library services. That news makes it more important than ever to support local libraries, she said.

While the federal government backs away from support of libraries, Michne said she’s buoyed by the support of the local community, including the school.

“We’re very grateful to the school for helping us with this and letting us host this game there,” she said. “It will be a lot of fun.”

Varsity boys basketball head coach Carl Johnson agreed. He said several big name alumni players will show up on Friday night to dust off the rust and take it to the younger players.

Johnson said he was happy to be part of it.

“The library has always been connected with us, and this will take it another step,” he said, adding it would be a good lesson for his current players and a good way to keep the energy from a memorable season going. “We were fortunate enough to get to the finals, so we want to keep that momentum going. The kids have to understand that sometimes you have to give back to the community.”