Sachem Public Library History
Look through the history of Sachem Public Library.
1916-01-01 01:46:52
First library
Lake Ronkonkoma Free Library is established in Lilian Brown DeVere’s home until its future site can be obtained
1917-01-01 01:46:52
First library building
Lake Ronkonkoma Free Library building on Hawkins Avenue opens for 2 hours on Wednesdays & Sundays
1917-02-01 01:46:52
First librarian
Ada “Purdy” Overton, who lives across the street, becomes the first librarian at Lake Ronkonkoma Free Library
1918-01-01 01:46:52
Second librarian
Librarian from 1918-1923, Evangeline Satterly Smith is a colorful figure who rides her bicycle to the library from Lake Grove (The County Review, 27 September 1918)
1924-03-17 09:29:51
Third librarian
Loretta Guntzer serves as librarian at Lake Ronkonkoma Free Library starting in 1924 until her resignation in May of 1941
1926-03-17 09:29:51
"Highly Satisfactory"
The library efficiency rating by New York State ranks Lake Ronkonkoma Free Library as rendering highly satisfactory service
1930-03-17 09:29:51
Fines
Pay collection is initiated: new fiction $0.10/week and after 1 year is dropped to $0.05/week with overdue fines of $0.05/day
1935-01-01 08:04:12
American Library Directory
The 1935 entry for Lake Ronkonkoma Free Library lists a population of 500 residents, 3728 volumes in the library collection with a circulation of 5656 per year
1941-05-26 09:29:51
From Girl Scout to Librarian
The Girl Scouts keep Lake Ronkonkoma Free Library open when Loretta Guntzer breaks her hip & wrist in a fall. One of the Scouts, Kathleen Hughes, is appointed Librarian upon Mrs. Guntzer's resignation in May of 1941 until her resignation 4 months later (The Suffolk County News, 30 May 1941)
1941-09-30 02:41:09
Another new librarian
Miss Margery Clift replaces Miss Hughes as Librarian
1943-01-01 14:16:50
Helen Halik, Librarian
Regular patron Helen Halik replaces Miss Margery Clift as Librarian
1947-03-17 10:59:51
Arrowheads
Bassford Hawkins donates his arrowhead collection to the Lake Ronkonkoma Free Library
1961-02-01 10:59:51
SCLS
Suffolk Cooperative Library System (SCLS) is established to help Suffolk County libraries provide services to residents
1961-02-25 10:59:51
New name
Lake Ronkonkoma Free Library adopts School District name, Sachem, as 5 Trustees are elected to a new Library Board
1962-10-01 10:59:51
New director
Muriel Prelowski is named Director of the Sachem Public Library
1964-06-01 10:59:51
Leadership change
Miklos Zsedely becomes Sachem Public Library Director upon the resignation of Muriel Prelowski due to her husband's job transfer to Denver, Colorado (The Suffolk County News, 16 July 1964)
1965-01-01 10:59:51
Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking ceremony for new Sachem Public Library site on Holbrook Road
1966-06-01 10:59:51
New building
New Sachem Public Library building opens on Holbrook Road
1967-01-02 02:07:14
Busing in the kids
Children’s program buses children to the Sachem Public Library in the summer
1968-01-02 02:07:14
Ownership change
School Board transfers Sachem Public Library building ownership to Library Board
1970-01-02 02:07:14
New leader
Leon Crain becomes the Sachem Public Library Director
1971-01-02 02:07:14
Newsletter
First Sachem Public Library newsletter is printed
1972-12-05 09:56:19
American Library Directory
The 1972-1973 entry for Sachem Public Library lists a population of 51490 residents, 76950 volumes in the library collection with a circulation of 244859 per year
1974-01-02 02:07:14
Large Print
Library’s large print collection starts with 200 books
1976-01-01 03:09:26
Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society
Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society leases the original library building on Hawkins Avenue
1976-01-02 02:07:14
Retirement
The last librarian from the Sachem Public Library Hawkins Avenue building, Helen Halik, retires
1980-01-02 02:07:14
Barcode scanners
Jerome Swartz, founder of Symbol Technologies in Holtsville, invents laser barcode scanners, which are incorporated into public libraries
1983-01-02 02:07:14
Director change
Catherine Romanelli is appointed Sachem Public Library Director
1984-01-02 02:07:14
Renovations
First renovations of Holbrook Road library building take place
1985-01-01 22:10:41
Friends
The Friends of Sachem Public Library is established
1985-03-01 03:37:55
Videocassettes
VHS tapes are added to the library’s circulating collection
1985-06-01 02:37:55
Circulation change
Computerized circulation begins at the library
1985-09-01 02:37:55
Computers
Children’s department of the library purchases four Commodore 64 computers
1986-01-01 02:37:55
Compact discs
The library starts circulating CDs
1986-06-01 02:37:55
Adult PCs
First library IBM-compatible computer for public use at the library
1989-05-24 21:29:20
Homebound
The library’s Homebound program, Connections, starts
1990-05-24 21:29:20
New catalog
The library card catalog is replaced with an automated catalog called LaserGuide
1995-05-24 21:29:20
Dial-up Internet
SuffolkNet, the Suffolk Cooperative Library System’s free internet service for patrons begins
1996-05-19 08:54:11
New Director
Lynne Miller is appointed as Sachem Public Library Director
2000-01-01 08:54:11
Leadership change
Judith Willner is appointed as Sachem Public Library Director
2000-03-01 08:54:11
Expansion
Grand opening of the major expansion of the Sachem Public Library building
2001-03-01 08:54:11
Library Café
Sachem’s first library café opens
2003-03-01 08:54:11
Art installation
“Maiden of the Lake” artwork by James “Slim” Cook is unveiled above the library fireplace
2004-04-17 09:23:36
Notary
Notary services start being offered at the library
2007-04-17 09:23:36
Mobile installation
Library mobile “The Heritage of Life on Long Island” by artist James “Slim” Cook is installed
2009-03-01 08:54:11
Museum Passes
Museum Passes are added to the library’s lending collection
2010-03-01 08:54:11
Inside/Out
The library’s Inside/Out garden space opens
2010-09-01 04:03:54
RFID
Sachem starts using RFID tags to allow for easy self-checkout of library materials
2011-03-09 09:53:20
Social Media
Sachem Library creates our first social media account
2012-02-24 01:19:11
DesTeenation
DesTeenation, a new space for teens, opens