Author Archive

New! Three Convenient Ways to Log Kid’s Summer Reading

Setauket, NY – June 17, 2019 –

Kids will be blasting off with books this summer in more ways than one! Emma Clark Library’s patrons may now keep track of the books that they read in 3 different ways: the website, a free app, or they may even “Ask Alexa” through the Amazon Echo!

The 2019 Summer Reading Club (SRC) theme is “A Universe of Stories.” Kids from Birth – 6th Grade are invited to join SRC by registering online right from the Library’s homepage (emmaclark.org), through the handy and free app, or in-person in the Children’s Department. After registering, each child will receive a new, sturdy reusable book bag (while supplies last). Registration is ongoing throughout the summer and does not have to be done by a certain date.

Last year the Library introduced a user-friendly website called Beanstack. This year, patrons may also download the free and handy Beanstack Tracker app (available on iTunes or Google Play stores) or they may even log their reading through the Amazon Echo (instructions at emmaclark.org/summerreading2019). Besides acting as an online book log, there are other benefits to recording what you’ve read via the website, app, or Alexa, such as weekly book recommendations based on your child’s interests. When the child logs their books read, he/she will receive colorful electronic badges and be notified of prizes earned. Parents and children will also be able to view themed booklists on topics of interest.

Starting Monday, July 1, earned weekly prizes will be awarded to kids who read at least one book each week. There will be weekly prizes for each child, as well as weekly raffle prizes (including, for children who earn 7 badges, a raffle to win an iPad mini!) in the Children’s Department. Any child may register for SRC, even if they can’t make it to the Library each week.

The Library also holds a friendly competition among the local elementary schools. 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 and Year inscribed on the “Emma Cup” trophy. Minnesauke won the coveted trophy three years in a row, and last year Nassakeag dethroned them. Who will win this year? SRC ends on August 31, and the winning school will be announced in September.

Families should also check Emma Clark Library’s newsletter for events and classes this summer (www.emmaclark.org/newsletters).

If there are any questions about the Kid’s SRC, email kids@emmaclark.org or call 631.941.4080 ext. 123.

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What about the Teens? They have a Summer Reading Club as well! Teens may pick up an entry form at the Adult Reference Desk. The more books they read, the greater their chance of winning one of the fabulous gift baskets that are given away in August at the end of the program.

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.

“The Heart of the Three Village Community”

New! Streaming Service

Great news! Hoopla was just added to our digital collection of ebooks, movies, music, audiobooks, and TV shows!

Hoopla titles may be streamed immediately to a Library cardholder’s computer, phone, tablet, or smart TV. This is an “on demand” service –there are no holds, and there is no waiting for a book, movie, TV show or song to become available! Using the app on a mobile device (phone or tablet), titles can be downloaded for offline access.

Hoopla may be accessed right from our website, alongside the other digital content: emmaclark.org/downloads. The free app is available for iPhones and Androids. Patrons are allowed to stream up to 5 titles per month.

Click here for instructions on how to use Hoopla.

Questions? Email askus@emmaclark.org

Hoopla – Free, On Demand Streaming Service – Now Available Through Emma Clark Library

Setauket, NY – May 29, 2019 –

Coming soon! Hoopla will be added to Emma Clark Library’s digital collection of ebooks, movies, music, audiobooks, and TV shows.

Hoopla will be accessed through Emma Clark Library’s website, alongside the other digital content: emmaclark.org/downloads. The free app is available for iPhones and Androids.

New at Emma Clark Library! Discounted Tickets to the Aquarium

Setauket, NY – May 2, 2019 –

Libraries are a source of information, education and entertainment, and Emma Clark is now extending the idea of learning through experiences by offering discounted tickets to the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead.

The discounted tickets cost $20 each (same price for adults, children, students, and seniors) and provide admission to the aquarium, aviary, and butterfly exhibits. The tickets do not expire. Emma Clark Library cardholders may purchase the tickets at the Library’s Circulation Desk using cash or check (made out to Emma S. Clark Memorial Library), and tickets are non-refundable. Families may purchase up to four tickets per month.

Affordably take advantage of another local gem with the help of your local library! For questions, please call 631.941.4080 ext. 127 or email askus@emmaclark.org.

Emma Clark Library also offers discounted tickets to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. These discounted tickets are an extension of the Library’s Museum Pass program, which includes free admission to over 20 museums and cultural institutions throughout Long Island and New York City. For more information on the museum pass program, visit emmaclark.org/museum-passes.

Continued Commitment to Education & Creativity at the 5th Annual Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Award Ceremony

Setauket, NY – April 9, 2019 –

Emma Clark Library board members & staff, the family of the late Helen Stein Shack, local elected officials, representatives from the Three Village Central School District, and guests from the community gathered on Monday evening, April 8^th to honor the winners of the fifth annual Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Award:

First Prize (Grades 7 – 9 category): Gerald’s Share by Nicole Xiao

First Prize (Grades 10 – 12 category): You Saved the Earth: A Plastic Bottle’s Journey by Juliet Weschke

Second Prize (Grades 7 – 9 category): Lily and Liam’s Summer at the Library by Riley Meckley

Second Prize (Grades 10 – 12 category): Simon’s Day at the Beach by Nicole Freeley

Library Director Ted Gutmann, along with the family of Helen Stein Shack, Legislator Kara Hahn, and Councilwoman Valerie Cartright presented all of the winners’ books – bound and added to the Library’s Local Focus Collection – along with $400 checks to first prize winners Nicole Xiao (8th grader at P.J. Gelinas Junior High School) and Juliet Weschke (10th grader at Ward Melville High School) and $100 checks for second prize winners Riley Meckley (9th grader at P.J. Gelinas Junior High School) and Nicole Freeley (11th grader at Ward Melville High School).

The speakers discussed how the contest and ceremony began 5 years ago as a tribute to the late Helen Stein Shack, especially fitting due to her love for learning and her particular fondness for Emma Clark Library. “We would come visit my grandma for a week, and she would take us straight here,” explained Mrs. Shack’s granddaughter Emma Kelly, who flew in from California for the event.

Councilwoman Cartright mentioned to the family that it is “such an amazing way to honor your mom and your grandma’s legacy, her commitment to education, recognizing that literacy is power.”

Legislator Kara Hahn spoke of the special lessons in each book. “When it’s a children’s book, the message does not only get through to the child. The message also gets through to the parent that’s reading it,” stated Legislator Hahn.

Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn and Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Valerie Cartright spoke at the event, and the winners also received certificates from Senator John J. Flanagan, Assemblyman Steven Englebright, Legislator Kara Hahn, Town Supervisor Edward Romaine, and Councilwoman Valerie Cartright. Library Board President Orlando Maione, Vice President Deborah Blair, Treasurer Christopher Fletcher, Secretary Carol Leister, and Trustees David Douglas and Suzanne Shane were there to congratulate the winners. Three Village Central School District President of the Board of Education William Connors, Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich, Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services Kevin Scanlon, Gelinas Junior High School Principal Corinne Keane, Ward Melville High School English Department Chair Vincent Cereola, Gelinas Junior High School English Department Chair Michelle Hanczor, and Gelinas Junior High School Librarian Nicole Connelly were all in attendance.

Guests enjoyed special treats donated by The Bite Size Bake Shop, a local Three Village-owned business. Ward Melville High School teen volunteer Ashley Mullen photographed the event.

The Helen Stein Shack Book Contest called for teens in grades 7 through 12 who live in the Three Village Central School District to create a children’s picture book. Each entry could be the work of a single author/illustrator or a collaborative effort between an author and an illustrator. The contest was divided into two grade categories, grades 7 through 9 and grades 10 through 12, with one First Prize Winner and one Second Prize Winner selected from each group.

Councilwoman Cartright remarked to the winners, “I’m delighted today to encourage you to continue using your creativity to share with others, to uplift others, because that’s what you’re doing by creating these books.”

The Library is grateful to the children of the late Mrs. Shack, who have established a substantial endowment with the Library to cover the cost of the awards as a tribute to their mother and her commitment to passing along the importance and joy of reading for generations to come.

Mrs. Shack’s son, Ed Taylor, spoke about the hard work and dedication that the winners and all of the participants have shown, and then imagined a glimpse into their futures. “These kids are going to grow up, and hopefully, they’ll have families of their own…and one night their kids are going to be lying in bed and ask for a good night story…and they’ll take a book off the shelf, and they’ll read it to their kids…and then they’ll tell them who the author was. That they wrote that book.”

“The Heart of the Three Village Community”