Author Archive

Summer Reading Tradition Remains Strong at Emma Clark Library

Setauket, NY – June 8, 2020 –

Despite unusual and unprecedented times, one thing remains certain – the Summer Reading tradition continues at Emma Clark Library for both children and teens. Now more than ever, we need to keep books and reading a part of our youth’s lives with the 2020 theme “Imagine Your Story.” And once again, there will be some fantastic prizes as well!

To help keep everyone safe in the community and follow the New York State guidelines, Summer Reading Club (SRC) will be exclusively online with our user-friendly and fun system, Beanstack, which Emma Clark used last year in the Children’s Library and will use this year for the Teen Department as well. Patrons may download the Beanstack app on their phone or tablet (available on iTunes or Google Play stores), use it on their computer, or even ask “Alexa” through the Amazon Echo device. Registration for both kids and teens begins on Monday, June 15th. Registration is ongoing throughout the summer and does not have to be done by a certain date (however, the program does end on Sunday, August 16).

For the children (ages birth – entering 6th grade), everyone who finishes SRC will receive a prize bag at the end (each child must read at least 7 books to complete the program). Both children and teens (those entering grades 7 – 12), will have the chance to win raffle prizes, which will be awarded at the end of SRC. Young readers will earn electronic raffle tickets and may enter all different raffles, or all the same, however they want to distribute their tickets. Tickets will be pulled and winners will be announced the week of August 17^th. More information for both Children and Teen Summer Reading Clubs can be found on the library’s homepage, emmaclark.org, including specific instructions on how to register, a listing of raffle prizes, and “frequently asked questions”.

The Children’s Department will still hold the friendly “Emma Cup” competition amongst the five elementary schools in the districts. The school that has the highest percentage of children that sign up for AND finish SRC (each child must read at least 7 books to complete the program) will have their school’s name engraved on the trophy.

Additionally, those young patrons who participated in the “Summer Reading Photo Shoots” a few months ago, will be able to check the Library’s website and social media for a video of all their amazing photos!

Emma Clark Library would also like to thank the following businesses that support the Library and our community by donating gift cards and merchandise for Kids and Teens Summer Reading raffle prizes:

• Adventureland Amusement Park
• Applebees
• Argyle Theater
• Bobby’s Burger Palace
• Cabo Fresh
• Campus Bicycle
• Cheesecake Factory
• Chili’s
• Luigi’s Pizzeria & Restaurant
• O Sole Mio Ristorante Pizzeria
• Panera Bread
• Port Jefferson Cinemas
• Port Jeff Bowl
• Rolling Pin Bakery
• Se-Port Seli
• Setauket Gourmet Deli
• Splish Splash
• Staller Center for the Arts, Stony Brook University
• Starbucks – Setauket
• Station Pizza
• Strathmore Bagels – Stony Brook
• Target – South Setauket
• Via Pizza

If there are any additional questions about the Children’s SRC, patrons should email kids@emmaclark.org. Questions regarding the Teen SRC should be directed to teen@emmaclark.org.

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

Emma Clark Library Has Begun Phased Re-Opening Plan and Overdue Fines Are Eliminated Permanently

Setauket, NY – June 5, 2020 –

The staff of Emma Clark Library is back in the beautiful 1892 building, preparing for safety and social distancing measures. The building had been closed as per Governor Cuomo’s executive order, but all at the Library are pleased to be able to start a phased reopening of the physical services, in addition to the online services that were always offered and new virtual classes and programs that the Library started providing during quarantine.

This week, library employees have returned to the building for Stage 1 of the Library’s re-opening plan. During Stage 1, only staff are permitted in the building, but patrons may begin returning items in the Book Drop. The Library is thrilled to announce that the Board of Trustees voted recently to permanently eliminate overdue fines on most items. This includes items that patrons had during quarantine, as well as all overdue fines going forward. The Library will be fine-free for all materials (with the exception of video games, Museum Passes, Playaway Launchpads, and Library of Things items).

When can you start borrowing physical materials again? Contactless “front door” pick-up is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 15, which is Stage 2 of the plan.  After patrons receive a notification from the Library that their items are ready for pickup, they can go online (see emmaclark.org for detailed instructions) or call the Library at 631.941.4080 to make a reservation for a specific day and time to pick up their items at the Library’s front door. The packages will be discretely wrapped, and patrons may simply pick up the bundle with their name on it. During this time of front door pick-up, only staff will be permitted inside the building.

Returned items will be quarantined for 72 hours before being checked-in and re-shelved. The borrowed materials may not come off the patron’s record immediately, but with no overdue fines, that should not be an issue.

For Stage 3 of the plan, which will begin on or about Monday, June 29, the building will open to the public. There will be some modification of facilities and no public events or gatherings, in order to maintain social distancing measures.

Each of these stages is subject to change and will depend on the status of the area metrics and guidelines from the Center for Disease Control, Suffolk County, and New York State. For more information on the phased re-opening plan and the most updated library news, the public is advised to continue to monitor the Library’s social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and website at emmaclark.org.

All at the Library are looking forward to welcoming the community to the building soon. The Library will also continue to offer their regular online resources, as well as the new virtual classes and events. The Board and staff would like to thank Three Village residents in advance for their patience and support during this process.

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

“The Heart of the Three Village Community”