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

Sachem Public Library History

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