Author Archive

Discounted American Museum of Natural History Tickets Now at Emma Clark Library

Setauket, NY – November 29, 2017 –

Three Village asked, and the Library answered! Emma Clark Library is now selling discounted tickets to one of the most beloved museums in New York – the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Residents in this community live in such close proximity to New York City, one of the largest cultural meccas in the world, and can affordably take advantage of this with the help of their local library.

The discounted tickets to AMNH cost $10 each (same price for adults, children, students, and seniors) and provide admission to the Museum, plus one temporary exhibition, Le Frak Theater film, Space Show, or Seasonal Live Animal Exhibit (normal admission for this level ticket is $28 for adults, $22.50 for students and seniors, and $16.50 for children ages 2 – 12). Emma Clark Library cardholders may purchase the tickets using cash or check (made out to Emma S. Clark Memorial Library) at the Library’s Circulation Desk, and tickets are non-refundable. Families may purchase up to four tickets per month.

The combination of the Museum and the Library can lead to new discoveries and knowledge for both young and old alike. The Library is thrilled to bring this benefit to Three Village!

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.

The American Museum of Natural History is located at Central Park West in New York City. The museum’s mission is to discover, interpret, and disseminate—through scientific research and education—knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe.

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”

Giving Galore at Emma Clark Library

Setauket, NY – November 8, 2017 –

5, 4, 3, 2, 1…. Emma Clark Library is helping new babies in the New Year! There will be a diapers, wipes, and formula drive at the Library, starting after Thanksgiving and running through the beginning of 2018 to serve the youngest (and most adorable) members of our community.
Anyone is welcome to fill the donation “crib,” located in the lobby by the Circulation Desk, from Tuesday, November 28 until Tuesday, January 2. For health and sanitation purposes, all formula and wipes must be unopened. Both new diaper packages and opened boxes of diapers will be accepted, so patrons may also bring in any sizes that their own children may have outgrown too.

Also, for the 4th year in a row, the Library is an official drop-off location for Toys for Tots (run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve). The donation box is in the lobby now through Tuesday, December 12. Toys must be new and unwrapped.

Both residents and nonresidents may donate to these important causes. Let’s start the New Year off right by assisting babies and kids in need right here on Long Island.

On-Demand Movie Streaming Service Now Available to Emma Clark Library Patrons

Setauket, NY – November 2, 2017 –

Emma Clark Library is now bringing over 30,000 independent, international, classic, and documentary films (even training videos), to Three Village through an on-demand video streaming service called Kanopy.

Kanopy offers a wide variety of movies in popular categories like comedy, drama, and romance, as well as subcategories including performing arts, mental health, education, gender studies, and biology, just to name a few. Hundreds of new films are added each month. The service is very user-friendly, and can be accessed on multiple devices, such as a computer, tablet, or smart phone.

Other libraries that offer Kanopy include The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Los Angeles Public Library, and the service was featured recently in The New York Times. Three Village residents may access Kanopy through the Library’s website, www.emmaclark.org/downloads, and then follow the steps to create an account. Each Emma Clark Library patron may watch up to 5 movies per month with their library card. Library cardholders may stream Kanopy on their computer or download the app on their phone, and start watching, as Kanopy calls it, “The world’s finest cinema, brought to you by your library.”

Questions? Email askus@emmaclark.org or call 631.941.4080.

New Energy-Efficient, Cost Effective Lighting at Emma Clark Library

Setauket, NY – November 2, 2017 –

Some “bright” news coming from Emma Clark Library this month! The Library is upgrading from fluorescent bulbs to new, energy-efficient and cost effective LED lighting.

There are over 1,100 bulbs and fixtures that will be replaced in the interior of the 1960s, 1980s, and 2000 sections of the building, which will result in an estimated 46% savings in energy usage per year. The old fluorescent bulbs and ballasts will be properly removed and recycled. Work is currently underway and will take about a week. All work is being done at night to avoid disruptions to library visitors.

This project is made possible through the PSEG Long Island 2017 Commercial Energy Efficiency Program. Rebates from PSEG and funding from a New York State Public Library Construction grant should allow the Library to recoup the cost in less than six months.

“As a centerpiece of the Three Village area, the Emma Clark Library is in a unique position to serve as an example of good stewardship and efficient operation,” says Ted Gutmann, Director of the Emma Clark Library. “The LED project underscores the commitment of the Library Trustees in seeing the Library as a responsible ‘citizen’ and for making our community a better place now, and for future generations.”

“The Heart of the Three Village Community”

Teens, Win a Scholarship and Have Your Book Added to Emma Clark Library’s Collection

Setauket, NY – November 1, 2017 –

A unique girl who wanted to spread color around her town, a lion trying to figure out where he belongs, a young child afraid of the noises at night, a happy sock who gets lost in the laundry, and a lesson that we can all be friends. These are just some subjects of the past winning books for the Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Contest at Emma Clark Library.

For the 4th consecutive year, the Library is showcasing the young writing and artistic talent in our community. The contest calls for teens grades 7 through 12 who live in the Three Village Central School District to create a children’s picture book. Winning authors will receive a monetary prize, have their book bound and added to the Library’s collection, and be recognized at an awards ceremony on Monday evening, April 23, 2018. This reception is well-attended by teachers and administrators from the school district, as well as local elected officials.

The contest is 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. Each entry can be the work of a single author/illustrator or can be a collaborative effort of an author and an illustrator.

Each of the First Prize award recipients will receive a $400 scholarship, and each of the Second Prize award recipients will receive a $100 scholarship (in the event that a winning entry is a collaboration between an artist and artist/illustrator, the prize will be shared). The winning entries will also be bound and added to the Children’s Local Focus Collection. All entrants will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Teens may obtain an Official Entry Form in-person in the Library’s lobby or online at emmaclark.org/picturebookaward starting November 17, 2017. Included with the form are the contest procedures & guidelines. They should bring their completed picture book, along with a completed Official Entry Form, to The Children’s Department anytime between January 3 – 31, 2018.

Last year’s Grand Prize winners were Eliana Sasson (Grades 7 – 9 category) and Katie Zhao (Grades 10 – 12 category). The public may view previous year’s winning entries at emmaclark.org/picturebookaward.

This award is given in memory of Helen Stein Shack by her family. As a teacher, Mrs. Shack was committed to the education of children, and she especially loved literature written for them. She was a frequent visitor to Emma Clark Library where, even in retirement, she kept current with the latest children’s 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 ongoing cost of the scholarships. This gift, in a sense, is an investment in our younger generation, and an inspiration for teens to continue to develop their creativity and work ethic.

Please note: A maximum of one entry will be accepted per author. Entries may be a collaboration of no more than one author and one artist/illustrator. Emma Clark employees, trustees, and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter.