Author Archive

Seed Library Sprouting Up at Emma Clark Library

Setauket, NY – March 6, 2024 –

Just in time for the first day of spring, a Seed Library and Seed Swap Box are blossoming at Emma Clark Library!

This new, sustainable initiative will debut on March 19 and include a collection of flower, herb, and vegetable seed packets, freely available to Emma Clark cardholders. The Seed Library will contain all organic seeds, many which are also Long Island native plants, and will be located in the Adult Department near the new café. Examples of seeds that will be available (on a first come, first served basis while supplies last) are echinacea, milkweed, sunflowers, basil, catnip, cilantro, oregano, arugula, beets, carrots, cucumbers, edamame, green beans, squash, and tomatoes. The Library asks that patrons take no more than 3 seed packets per week and sign the Seed Library Guest Book (individuals do not check out the packets like other library items), to let the library know what they have taken. Additionally, the Library will be granting community service hours to teen volunteers for helping replenish the Seed Library by sorting, packaging, and labeling seeds at designated library-sponsored programs (see emmaclark.org/programs).

Below the Seed Library, there will also be a Seed Swap Box, designed for the generous public to share seeds with the Three Village community. This section of seeds is donated by patrons (in sealed, labeled packets) and will not be inspected or catalogued by the Library. The public is invited to either share seeds or pick up seeds, or do both. There is no limit to how many seeds an individual may donate or take from the Swap Box.

Making this new collection even more environmentally-friendly is the that fact that the structure is a recycled “old-fashioned” library card catalog, effectively repurposed for the seeds. For those who don’t remember the physical card catalog from years ago, it is a specialized piece of furniture that is no longer used in the Library since the inception of the online catalog.

Spearheading this green enterprise is the Library’s Head of Teen Services, Emily Ostrander, who heard the public requests for a Seed Library and found a way to incorporate it into teen volunteering opportunities as well.

“Three Village is such an environmentally-conscious community that is full of gardening enthusiasts. I’m excited to bring this new resource to our patrons! Not to mention that we are getting teenagers involved in gardening at this transitional time in their lives when they’re looking for lifelong skills and hobbies. It may inspire our next generation of growers,” remarks Ms. Ostrander.

The Seed Library is, quite literarily, a growing collection, and new varieties of seeds may be added from time to time. Similarly, as seed packets are taken, not all may be replaced, as there are a limited number of seeds available. The Library asks that gardeners be mindful of what they take, and remember this is a shared resource for all in our community. The goals of the Seed Library and Seed Swap Box are to provide seeds, build community, and support people who are new to the world of gardening, as well as those who are well-seasoned gardeners.

More information on the Seed Library and Seed Swap Box, as well as additional gardening resources, may be found at emmaclark.org/seedlibrary.

Furthermore, the Library continuously holds both in-person and online gardening classes year-round. A listing of classes may be found in the Library’s newsletter or at emmaclark.org/programs.

The Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, located at 120 Main Street in Setauket and online at www.emmaclark.org, provides public library service to all residents of the Three Village Central School District.

“The Heart of the Three Village Community”

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Irish Heritage Programs

Text says "Irish Heritage" Green plaid background with clovers

Kick off St. Patrick’s Day by celebrating Irish heritage at the Library!

St. Patrick’s Concert: Fiddlers Green (In-Person)
Sunday, March 8, 2026, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Enjoy the music of Fiddlers Green, as they perform traditional music of Ireland and America in an authentic acoustic style. This program is made possible by the Philip Groia Global Studies bequest. Click here to register now.

Evening Book Discussion (In-Person)
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 7:30 – 8:45 p.m.
Two Irish novellas, Foster and Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (book pickup starts 2/11). No registration required.

Irish Genealogy Workshop (In-Person)
Thursday, March 12, 2026, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Join genealogist Eileen Swanberg as she takes you through the ups and down of Irish genealogical research. Learn about naming patterns. Find out why so many older censuses and other records no longer exist. Discover why your Irish Catholic family may be found in the Church of Ireland records instead of the Catholic Church records. Hear about Griffiths Primary Valuation and Tithe Applotment Books. Step “across the pond” to US records to help track down your immigrant Irish family. Hear about all the websites dedicated to your Irish research. Who knows…maybe you will find your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! Click here to register now.

Questions? Email askus@emmaclark.org

Click here to see all of the Library’s classes!

Seed Library

The Seed Library will be fully restocked in time for the first day of Spring – March 20!

ABCMouse now free at home!

ABCmouse is the award-winning early learning resource for math, phonics, reading, and more. Designed by learning experts, your child can practice anytime, anywhere. It has interactive books, educational games, puzzles, and more for ages 2 – 6+.

With your library card, you can now access ABCmouse at home for free! Click Here, choose New York, find Emma S Clark Library in the drop down menu, and then enter your library card’s barcode and your Library PIN or password.

Once you hit submit, you should see a page with the name of your library across the top. This page also contains fields for a name and email so you can make separate ABC Mouse accounts for each child in the household. You can even log in and track your child’s progress.

Questions? Email kids@emmaclark.org

Library Café, Operated by Level Up Kitchen, Now Open

Setauket, NY – December 11, 2023 –

Emma S. Clark Memorial Library has unveiled its new café, the much-anticipated final phase in a construction project that was announced in 2021, which includes the café, a new outdoor terrace, and better flow for the library’s main reading room. This 2-year project is helping to make the library even more of a community center than it was before – inviting those to come and stay for a while – and meeting the different needs of the library’s various constituents.

More info & menu at emmaclark.org/cafe

The café, now open to the public, is run by Level Up Kitchen, a local business which was selected from a pool of candidates to be the food and beverage vendor, as was publicized by the Library in May of this year.

Owned and operated by Three Village native and chef Chelsea Gomez, Level Up Kitchen Library Café promises fresh coffee and healthy, handcrafted fare that meets a variety of dietary needs. The menu includes nut-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan items, avoiding cross contamination with allergens. Moreover, Ms. Gomez places importance on sustainability, working with local farms and purveyors where possible to stimulate the local economy and provide the freshest, high-quality ingredients. Ms. Gomez possesses extensive knowledge of food safety, and all of her employees are Suffolk County Department of Health-certified food managers.

In addition to the outdoor terrace which opened last summer, a new indoor seating area was added adjacent to the café. Architect John Cunniffe, a local Stony Brook resident who has experience in preserving historical accuracy, ensured that the café and seating area showed architectural sensitivity to the historic section with the same refined feel. Urban Village Contracting, Inc., a 3V-resident-owned local company executed the construction. The library was able to complete the entire construction project without having to close at all for its patrons.

A café is a very popular addition among today’s libraries. It allows for more flexibility and options for the public, both to visit the library more often, as well as to extend their stay. The library is not solely a building full of books, but where individuals or groups may leisurely enjoy the beautiful space. Those who are studying or working may now take a break for a quick snack or meal, without having to leave the library. Before or after a library program, attendees may have something to eat or drink. Those who live or work in the neighborhood may stop in to grab a coffee or a bite to eat. Friends may meet at the library for coffee or a meal and browse books together. The café simply enhances that welcoming feel and accommodates those who would like to stay longer.

This “new” Emma Clark Library is not so much a transformation, as it is a rejuvenation of the Library, staying true to its historic roots and yet accommodating its 21st century constituency. The Library Board of Trustees and Staff are thrilled to offer these improvements to the community here in Three Village.

Level Up Kitchen is owned and operated by Three Village native and chef Chelsea Gomez. Ms. Gomez graduated from Pennsylvania College of Technology with a degree in Culinary Arts in 2006, and prior to founding Level Up Kitchen Ms. Gomez was Executive Chef at the much-loved Pentimento Restaurant in Stony Brook, which closed in 2021. Ms. Gomez is fully invested in the Three Village community, having grown up in Setauket, and she is currently raising her young family here.

The Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, located at 120 Main Street in Setauket and on the web at www.emmaclark.org, provides public library service to all residents of the Three Village Central School District.