The Heart of the Three Village Community
Category: FP Mosaic
2025 Recycling Events
These events are a great way to recycle your unwanted items, and they’re open to the public at Emma Clark Library:
Shed the Meds
Wednesday, April 2 from 12:00noon – 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 7 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Please note this is a rescheduled date.
Wednesday, November 5 from 12:00noon – 3:00 p.m. Please note the Sheriff’s Office has changed the time, and it is now ending at 3:00 p.m.
The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office hosts this safe way to properly dispose of unused medications. Proper disposal is essential to protect the environment and ensure that old drugs don’t end up in the wrong hands. Please note: The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office cannot accept any liquids, needles, creams, or ointments of any kind. They are only accepting unused or expired medications from individuals (not large quantities from a doctor’s office or health care facility).
Community Shred Day
Saturday, May 3 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 4 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
We’re here to help you get rid of that unnecessary paperwork in a safe and environmentally friendly way. Protect your privacy and get rid of clutter. A shredding truck from A Shred Away, Inc. will be in our parking lot for on-site shredding of personal documents. There is a limit of 5 boxes or bags. All paper collected will be recycled at a certified paper mill. Please note: No plastic, carbon paper, hanging files, red well folders, cardboard, newspapers or magazines. Clips and staples are fine to put through the shredder. No wet papers, and please take any boxes, bags, etc. back home with you.
E-Waste & Metal Recycling
Saturday, May 17 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 27 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Do you have outdated & unwanted electronics and metal cluttering up your house or workspace, collecting dust or taking up space? Arrow Scrap Metal and E-Waste Recycling, a NYS registered electronic waste recycling facility, can help. Bring your used computers, cell phones, laptops, servers, wire & cable, scrap metal, circuit boards, batteries, printers, hard drives & storage devices, power tools, small appliances, small electronics, keyboards/mice, stereos, flat screen TVs and computer monitors, cameras, and more. Your hard-drives and old cell phones can also be shredded on site (if possible, please remove the hard-drive from your computer before your arrival). Batteries (both regular and rechargeable) are accepted, but please tape the terminals. Not accepted: CRT (Tube) TVs and CRT (Tube) computer monitors, lightbulbs, paper, general garbage, liquids, paints, containers containing gases, medical waste, tires, glass, or wood.
These services are open to the public. There is no need to register or to be a Three Village resident to participate. Please do not line up early, as it blocks traffic into and out of the Library.
Questions? Email askus@emmaclark.org
We also have the ongoing NexTrex Recycling Challenge! Click here for more information.
Kids Community Service
Upcoming Community Service programs for children:
Volunteer at Hobbs Farm (Bethel Hobbs Farm, Centereach) for Community Service (Grades 3 – 5)
Watercolor Bookmarks for Seniors (Grades 3 – 5)
Holiday Cards for Seniors (Grades 3 – 5)
Cards for Hospitalized Kids (Grades 3 – 5)
Winter Scarf (Grades 3 – 5)
Also, check out the ongoing community service opportunities for our younger patrons, which can be done from home:
Color a Smile (Grades K – 2): Click here for detailed instructions.
Book Reviews for Kids (Grades 3 – 5): Click here for detailed instructions.
Letters to Our Troops (Grades 3 – 5): Click here for detailed instructions.
Please note: The Library provides a variety of community service credit opportunities. When applying for a society or award, it is your responsibility to confirm that the credit earned through the Library is accepted by the organization.
Questions? Email kids@emmaclark.org
Honoring Our Veterans
Veterans Board
Each year in November, we display the Veterans Board in our Library lobby to highlight local veterans. Bring in a photo of your favorite veteran to the Circulation Desk or Adult Reference Desk and fill out a quick form about the veteran. We’ll display the picture on the Veterans Board. The veteran highlighted may be yourself, a friend, or a family member who served in uniform. The Veterans Board will be exhibited for the month of November, and the original photos will be available for pick-up at the Circulation Desk after December 1.
Click here to view the 2024 Veterans Video on the Library’s Facebook Page.
Please note that the Library will be closed on Tuesday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day.
For Teens & Tweens (Grades 6 – 12)
Vets + Pets
Tuesday, November 4, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Create gifts for veterans who are adopting companion animals, or receiving a service animal. Taught by
Theresa Maritato. Earn 1 hour of community service credit. Click here to register now.
Questions? Email teens@emmaclark.org
For Kids (Grades 3 – 5) – Ongoing
Kids may join in honoring our country’s veterans and current troops. The Children’s Department offers an ongoing volunteer opportunity for those in Grades 3 – 6 to write letters and earn community service credit. Click here for more information.
Questions? Email kids@emmaclark.org
VetNow – Ongoing
VetNow is a free, online resource for veterans. It supports veterans & their families through:
- Assistance with VA benefits (by veterans themselves)
- Job transition resources
- Academic tutoring
- Q&A
- And more!
Questions? Email askus@emmaclark.org
Fold3 by Ancestry – Ongoing
Fold3 gives you free, online access to military records, including stories, photos, and personal documents of the men & women who served through through partnerships with The National Archives, the Library of Congress and other institutions.
Questions? Email askus@emmaclark.org
Museum Pass for free admission to the LT Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum – Ongoing
The LT Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum is part of the Library’s widely used Museum Pass Collection.
This interactive museum, located in West Sayville, is dedicated to the commemoration and storytelling of the U.S. Navy SEAL community and includes a movie theater and SEAL simulation ride. Three Village residents may borrow a pass for free admission for 2 adults and 4 children (under 18 years old). This pass is “Print & Go”, which means patrons may print it from any computer (there is no need to pick up a physical pass from the library).
The LT Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum complements the nearby Long Island Maritime Museum, which is also located in West Sayville and a part of Emma Clark’s Museum Pass Collection.
Reserve a pass and more information here: emmaclark.org/museum-passes.
Questions? Email askus@emmaclark.org
Help Our Furry Friends
We’re once again participating in The Great Give Back, a Suffolk Cooperative Library System initiative to provide opportunities for library patrons to participate in meaningful, service-oriented activities. Ours is a Pet theme… help support our furry friends!
For Everyone
Pet Supplies Drive, October 6 – 31
We’re collecting new pet supplies (food, blankets, leashes, cleaning supplies, etc.) in the Library lobby to be donated to local organizations that help pets in need. All are welcome to donate (residents or non-residents) during Library hours.
Questions? Email askus@emmaclark.org
Dog or Cat Toy “Take & Make”
Create a dog or cat toy at home while earning 1 hour of community service credit.
Click here to reserve your Cat Kit OR Click here to reserve your Dog Kit. Then come and pick it up! Return it to the Children’s Library by Saturday, October 18, and we’ll donate them to a local animal shelter. One dog or cat kit per child, please.
Dog Treat Jars for Pet Supply Drive
Monday, October 27, 4:30 -5:30 p.m.
Come get crafty with us as we decorate treat jars for our furry friends—these “pawsome” creations will be donated to our Pet Supply Drive! Participants will earn one hour of community service credit. Click here to register now.
Questions? Email kids@emmaclark.org
For Teens & Tweens (Grades 6 – 12)
Dog Treats for Shelter Pups
Sunday, October 5, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Create dog treats to be donated to local pet shelters. Taught by Chef Rob Scott. Earn 1 hour of community service credit for participating. Click here to register now
Knotted Fleece Blankets for Shelter Pets (“Take & Make”)
Click here to register now to reserve your kit. Pick up at the Lower Level Service Desk between Monday, October 6 through Friday, October 10. Instructions provided via email. Two hours of community service credit will be earned upon return of the completed project.
Questions? Email teens@emmaclark.org
Teens & Tweens, You Can Win!
Once again, we’re showcasing the young writing and artistic talent in our community! The Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Contest calls for teens grades 6 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 Local Focus Collection, and be recognized at an awards ceremony.
The contest is divided into two grade categories, grades 6 through 8 and grades 9 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.
The Heart of the Three Village Community
