Duncan MacIntosh's letter (The Roslyn News, Jan. 22) about the Bryant Library argues the point that the library is underutilized and that the proposed expansion is unnecessary. A person might be persuaded by the points raised, but only if he or she is unfamiliar with the Bryant Library and its community.

Mr. MacIntosh reports on the number of people he saw in the main area on seven different occasions and concludes that "the library is mostly empty most of the time." He seems to have loaded the dice, since every one of his visits occurred between 5:20 and 7:42 p.m., when any thinking person would know that library use will be low. He describes his methodology as "unsophisticated but objective." Unsophisticated? Yes. Objective? No. He has picked hours to count patrons when he knew - or should have known - that very few would be present and has concluded that "the library is utilized at less than 10 percent of capacity." His conclusion is just plain wrong.

From other comments in Mr. MacIntosh's letter one must assume either that he is ignorant of many Bryant Library activities or has deliberately chosen to ignore them in order to try to make his point. Is he unaware of the remarkably large number of children, teens and adults who utilize the library every day and who attend lectures, classes, art shows, concerts and various other recreational activaties?

Mr. MacIntosh makes the outrageous accusation that "the library board may try to slip the bond referendum ... under the radar screen." Over the past year the board has consulted frequently with volunteer committees of local residents, has conducted a public meeting (in November) and has scheduled two more meetings for the community (Feb. 4 and March 3). All of these activities have been publicized in The Roslyn News and have been announced through mailings to every home in the Greater Roslyn area. Has Mr. MacIntosh been asleep throughout all of this activity? Plans for the proposed library extension have been discussed in several issues of the Bryant Library Newsletter, copies of which went to every home and are conspicuously available in the library - where Mr. MacIntosh seems to have ignored them during his visits.

Finally, Mr. MacIntosh claims that "the proposed $15 million for the library will grow in cost." this is incorrect because any cost figure stated on the referendum ballot will be legally binding and cannot be exceeded.

Mr. MacIntosh has used specious arguments to make a case that is without merit.

All of us who care about the library should come to the public meeting on March 3 to obtain accurate information about this important proposal. The Bryant Library is a significant community resource which we must preserve and nourish.

Peter and Marge Rogatz