On Monday evening, Board members and staff of Emma Clark Library, along with the family of the late Helen Stein Shack, local elected officials, and representatives from the Three Village Central School district and The Stony Brook School honored teens and tweens at the 12th annual Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Award:

First Prize (Grades 6 – 8 category): Bunny and the Bluejay by Vivienne Rochlin-Hizver (7^th grader at P.J. Gelinas Middle School)

First Prize (Grades 9 – 12 category): The Penguins Go to the City by Elizabeth Wright (11^th grader at Ward Melville High School)

Second Prize (Grades 6 – 8 category): Ricky and the Beach by Maddex Buonaspina (7^th grader at R. C. Murphy Middle School)

Second Prize (Grades 9 – 12 category): Seven Meals Around the World by Genevieve Rochlin (11^th grader at The Stony Brook School)

Library Director Theresa Liguori, along with the family of the late Helen Stein Shack, presented the winners’ books – bound and added to the Library’s Local Focus Collection – along with certificates and $400 checks to first prize winners Vivienne Rochlin-Hizver and Elizabeth Wright and $100 checks for second prize winners Maddex Buonaspina and Genevieve Rochlin. Ms. Liguori remarked, “All of these books are delightful expressions of creativity and imagination.”

Suffolk County Legislator Steven Englebright, Councilmember Jonathan Korneich, and a staff member from Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay’s office were in attendance, and they presented certificates to the winners. The winners also received certificates from New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo.

The award is named in honor of Helen Stein Shack, whose family approached the Library with the idea of establishing an endowment as a tribute to their mother, a teacher and lover of libraries, especially Emma Clark Library. Their gift covers the cost of the awards and passes along Ms. Shack’s joy of reading and lifelong learning to future generations. Karen Shack Reid, one of Ms. Stein Shack’s daughters, addressed the winners with a special message:

Keep in mind, you didn’t just submit a piece of work. You’ve completed a book. You’ve crafted a story. You shaped your vision. You followed it through to the end and that alone is an achievement most people can’t do. Let it remind you always of what you’re capable of. My mother would be proud of your talent, no doubt, but she would be more proud of your courage. She also believed that your confidence grows each time you share your voice with the world… let this award be a reminder that you have everything it takes to keep creating, keep growing, and keep believing in your own abilities.

Of course, children’s literature was a theme of the evening, with Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich commenting, “I’m very well aware of the power… that a good children’s book can have to literally alter the trajectory of a child’s life and change their whole perspective… and how they engage their minds and get involved.”

Three Village Central School District Board President Susan Megroz Rosenzweig expressed her excitement and joy to see these original books on the shelves of Emma Clark Library. “I cannot wait for all of the kids from Three Village and beyond to plunk down upstairs in one of my most favorite places, the children’s library, and break out those books and go into the world that you built for them.”

Library Board Vice President Carol Leister, Secretary Angeline Yeo-Judex, and Trustees Debroah Blair, Stephen Ingulli, and Linda Josephs were in attendance to congratulate the winners.  In addition to Susan Megroz Rosenzweig, Assistant Superintendent Brian Biscari, Director Fine Arts Ashley Ockner, Ward Melville High School Principal John Holownia, Gelinas Middle School Principal Corinne Keane, Murphy Middle School Principal Michael Jantzen, Ward Melville High School English Department Chairperson Joanna Nizza, Murphy Librarian Ellen Dove, and Murphy English Teacher Susan Keenan were all there in support of their students, along with the Head of the English Department at The Stony Brook School, Jacob Morley.

Guests enjoyed sweets by The Bite Size Bake Shop, a local Three Village-owned business that has been donating desserts to the ceremony since the contest began twelve years ago.

Legislator Steve Englebright summed up the celebration in his remarks, “Congratulations to each of the winners and for bringing us a chance to know that going forward we’re going to see more creativity and more wonderful products of your imagination.”

The Helen Stein Shack Book Contest calls for teens and tweens in grades 6 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 6 through 8 and grades 9 through 12, with one First Prize Winner and one Second Prize Winner selected from each group. 

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”

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• Access from INSIDE the library
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A library of on-demand parenting resource videos with content designed to support those who care for children, from pregnancy through to teenage years.

Take & Make: SRC Dinosaur Art Community Service (Grades 3 – 5)

Monday, May 11
Get ready to roar with creativity! Kids will design colorful dinosaurs on canvas, creating awesome
dino masterpieces that will help decorate our library for the Summer Reading Challenge. Pick up your
art kit starting on Mon., May 11 and return your creative work of art by Tue., May 26. Participants will
earn two hours of community service credit. Only one kit per child. Reserve your kit here starting 5/11. 

Decorating with Chef Rob: Digging for Dinosaurs Dessert Cups (Grades K – 5)

Saturday, June 6, 12:00 – 12:30 p.m. OR 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.
Create a dessert cup to take home!
Reserve your child’s spot for the 12:00 class here starting 5/23.
Reserve your child’s spot for the 12:30 class here starting 5/23.

Petra Puppets: Fossil Funhouse (Grades K – 5)

Tuesday, June 30, 11:00 a.m. – 12 noon
Why do Pterodactyls love raviolis? How can you stop a Sneezasaurus from sneezing? Kids will uncover the answers with a cast of goofy dinosaurs, funny fossils and mysterious hidden raviolis, featuring: Grandma Pterry – the Pterodactyl, Tiny Tony- the Baby T Rex, Julius Sneezasauarus and Dennis the Prehistoric Clam. Come and have a Dino Time! Reserve your child’s spot here starting 6/23.

Bee Bot: Dino Adventure (Grades PreK – 1)

Tuesday, June 30, 2:30 – 3:15 p.m.
Program Bee Bots for an exciting dinosaur safari adventure! Reserve your child’s spot here starting 6/23.

Bee Bot: Dino Coding Challenge (Grades 2 – 6)

Tuesday, June 30, 3:30 – 4:15 p.m.
Get Bee Bots moving as you code your way through exciting challenges! Reserve your child’s spot here starting 6/23.

Check back here for more Dinosaur-themed programs in July and August!

Questions? Email kids@emmaclark.org

Cooking with Chef Rashimi: Mango Lassi and Vegetable Pakora (In-Person)
Tuesday, May 12, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. 
In this cooking demonstration, Chef Rashmi will make a creamy, sweet and refreshing mango lassi, the iconic Indian summer drink. She will also prepare vegetable pakoras (crispy vegan fritters) served with a tangy tamarind chutney. Food samples and recipes will be provided. This program is made possible by the Philip Groia Global Studies bequest. Click here to register now.

Evening Book Discussion: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (In-Person)
Wednesday, May 13, 7:30 – 8:45 p.m. 
Pick up a copy of the book at the Circulation Desk in the Library Lobby starting 4/8.
Summary: From the indie rockstar of Japanese Breakfast fame, and author of the viral 2018 New Yorker essay that shares the title of this book, an unflinching, powerful memoir about growing up Korean-American, losing her mother, and forging her own identity. In this exquisite story of family, food, grief, and endurance, Michelle Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter, and guitarist. With humor and heart, she tells of growing up the only Asian-American kid at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother’s particular, high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother’s tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food. As she grew up, moving to the east coast for college, finding work in the restaurant industry, performing gigs with her fledgling band – and meeting the man who would become her husband – her Koreanness began to feel ever more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live. It was her mother’s diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her.
No registration required.

The Tenement Museum Virtual Tour: The Wong Family (Online)
Wednesday, May 27, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. 
A live Tenement Museum Educator will take you inside the museum’s recreated historic spaces. Explore the story of the Wongs, a Chinese American family who lived in 103 Orchard Street in the 1970s. Look at how they made a home and how their experiences reflect the growth of Chinese communities and the garment industry in New York in the wake of changing immigration laws. Click here to register now.

Questions? Email askus@emmaclark.org

Emma Clark Library is pleased to announce the winners for the 12^th annual Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Contest:

First Prize (Grades 6 – 8 category): Bunny and the Bluejay by Vivienne Rochlin-Hizver (7^th grader at P.J. Gelinas Middle School)

First Prize (Grades 9 – 12 category): The Penguins Go to the City by Elizabeth Wright (11^th grader at Ward Melville High School)

Second Prize (Grades 6 – 8 category): Ricky and the Beach by Maddex Buonaspina (7^th grader at R. C. Murphy Middle School)

Second Prize (Grades 9 – 12 category): Seven Meals Around the World by Genevieve Rochlin (11^th grader at The Stony Brook School)                                           

Each of the winning entries has their own unique artwork and storylines geared towards young children. In Bunny and the Bluejay by Vivienne Rochlin-Hizver, Bunny learns how each creature is unique with their own special strengths. With delicate pen and watercolor illustrations, The Penguins Go to the City by Elizabeth Wright invites the reader to follow a group of penguins on an adventure! In Ricky and the Beach by Maddex Buonaspina, the main character is hesitant to go to the beach. Will he enjoy himself or will his fears get the best of him? Children travel around the world with Cooper the Goose in Seven Meals Around the World by Genevieve Rochlin, as they discover different culinary explorations.

The Helen Stein Shack Book Contest called for teens and tweens in grades 6 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 of an author and an illustrator.  The contest was 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.

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 cost of the prizes.

Contest winners will be celebrated at a private awards ceremony on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.  Each First Prize award recipient will receive a $400 scholarship, and each Second Prize award recipient will receive a $100 scholarship. The newly bound books – made into hardcover by the Library – will have the honor of being added to the Library’s Local Focus Collection, and winners will also receive copies of their books to cherish in their own home libraries. Desserts will be served at the reception, generously donated by The Bite Size Bake Shop. Past ceremonies have had Library Board members, teachers and top school district administrators from Three Village and The Stony Brook School, as well as elected officials from New York State, Suffolk County, and the Town of Brookhaven, all in attendance to honor the winners.

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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PRIDE! Our Story
The History of the LGBTQ+ Movement in America
on display at Emma Clark Library from April 1 – 28

This traveling exhibit, on loan from the Huntington Public Library, honors the fearless pioneers, iconic moments, and everyday heroes who have defined more than a century of struggle and triumph.

Created by Huntington resident John N. Daniello, a graphic designer and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, the exhibit aims to educate, inspire, and preserve these vital stories for future generations.

FDR’s Four Freedoms (Online; Adults)

Tuesday, May 5, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. 
On January 6, 1941, Franklin Roosevelt shared with the country his vision for a world founded on “four essential freedoms” – freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. 2025 marked the 80th anniversary of the ending of World War II, which brought about the new world order based on FDR’s Four Freedoms. This session explores the vision Roosevelt held for all the world. Led by Jeffrey Urbin, Education Specialist at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Note: Rescheduled from October & February due to government shutdown. Open to all adults. Click here to register now.

Becoming the United States: Colonial America to Reconstruction
A Long Island Resources Council Traveling Exhibition
on display at Emma Clark Library from May 26 – June 24

This exhibit was created by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History using items from their collection. It explores individuals, groups, and documents that have contributed to the history of the United States.

From Sea to Shining Sea: Community Art Exhibition
Mid-June – August

Visit the Library this summer to view this collaborative art display at our Library Café Gallery. This exhibit includes American landscape paintings from our patrons of all ages. All canvases together will reveal a beautiful patchwork display, celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

Theodore Roosevelt on Film: The First Presidential Movie Star (In-Person; Adults)

Wednesday, June 3, 12:00 – 1:45 p.m. 
The 26th President of the United States – Oyster Bay’s own Theodore Roosevelt – wowed early movie-goers with his energetic on-screen persona. The magnetic Mr. Roosevelt could have easily signed a movie contract. While Roosevelt was in office, nearly two hundred short films of Roosevelt or Roosevelt imitators were made, but only a fraction survive. Film historian Glenn Andreiev will share these rare film clips. Click here to register now.

Unsung Heroes: LGBTQ Activists & Advocates (In-Person; Adults, Teens & Tweens)

Thursday, June 4, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. 
Take pride in American history and discover LGBTQ activists and advocates who stood up to prejudice and ignorance. Celebrate the pioneers of the LGBTQ rights movement by learning about Barbara Gittings, Dr. John Fryer and more! Taught by Howard Rosenberg. Open to all Adults, Teens, and Tweens. Click here to register now.

Miles Davis at 100: A Birthday Celebration with Wayne Tucker (In-Person; Adults)

Sunday, June 14, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. 
American jazz legend Miles Davis would have turned 100 on May 26th. Join us to celebrate his life and legacy with Grammy-nominated trumpet player and vocalist Wayne Tucker and his band. From the Bebop era of the late 40s to his funk hit “We Want Miles”, we are going to celebrate Miles in a way you have not yet heard! Click here to register now.

Juneteenth: A History (In-Person; Adults, Teens & Tweens)

Monday, June 15, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. 
Let’s delve into the history and celebration of Juneteenth with Professor Andrew “Sekou” Jackson, Executive Director Emeritus of the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center. Open to all. Click here to register now.

Cooking with Chef Rob: Apple Pie (In-Person; Adults)

Tuesday, June 16, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. OR 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Chef Rob will guide you step-by-step as you prepare an All-American Crustless Apple Crumb Pie to take home and bake! He will also prepare Roasted Shrimp that you can sample while making your pie. Food samples and recipes will be provided. Please note: You must bring three large, crisp apples, two medium bowls, one 7-inch pan for baking, and a small cutting board.
Click here to register for the 3:00 p.m. program now.
Click here to register for the 6:30 p.m. program now.

Savvy Sightseer’s Destination Travelogue: Go West! National Parks & Canyons (In-Person; Adults)

Monday, June 29, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. 
Join “Savvy Sightseer” Jeanne Schnupp as she presents a photographic tour of the dramatic and jaw-dropping vistas of Arizona, Utah and the Navajo Nation. She’ll share photos and stories of the majestic Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley and Zion National Park. Open to all. Click here to register now.

Past Events & Classes

The American Experience: American Artists Through Our History (In-Person; Adults)

Thursday, April 16, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. 
As we are celebrating 250 years of our nation, let us look at some of the artwork that has expressed the patchwork of voices, ideas, culture, history, and perspectives. Through the eyes of American artists, we’ll explore the American experience – social, intellectual, & cultural – with artist and professor Chris Vivas. Open to all adults. Click here to register now.

From Sea to Shining Sea: Community Art Exhibition (All Ages): Instructions for Artwork

All ages are invited to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 by contributing to our Library’s collaborative art display. Each participant will create an American landscape scene on a 10×10” canvas. In June, we’ll hang all the canvases together to reveal a beautiful patchwork display in our Library Café Gallery! Here’s how to join the fun:

1. Beginning on March 16, pick up your canvas at the Library. All ages can participate! Kids pickups will take place at the Children’s Desk. Adults and Teens & Tweens pickups will take place at the Lower Level Service Desk. Please note: Registration is required for pickup. Registration will be broken down by age group: Kids, Teens & Tweens, and Adults. Register online, in person, or by phone: 

Adults, click here to register now.

Teens/Tweens (Grades 6 – 12), click here to register now.

Kids, click here to register now.

2. Create your landscape at home using your favorite medium: markers, crayons, paints, pastels, mixed media, or whatever sparks your creativity! Inspired by our beautiful nation, your scene will represent an American landscape, whether the far-away beaches of Hawaii or the towering skyline of the Big Apple!

3. Return your completed canvas any time on or before May 1. Drop-offs will be accepted at any Library service desk. If you’d like to pick up your canvas after the exhibit, please be sure to write your first and last name legibly on the back.

4. Visit the Library this summer to view this collaborative project on display near the Adult Reference Desk and the Library Café. The From Sea to Shining Sea Community Art Exhibition will stay on the walls throughout the summer!

Please note: Not for Community Service Credit

Check back here as more programs get added throughout the year!

Questions? Email askus@emmaclark.org

The Board of Trustees at Emma S. Clark Memorial Library is pleased to announce the appointment of Theresa Liguori as the new Library Director, starting January 20, 2026. Ms. Liguori comes to Emma Clark with over 20 years of authentic, creative, and strategic experience in library administration.

Most recently, Ms. Liguori is serving as Chief Public Services Officer for the Denver Public Library, overseeing public service delivery across 27 locations, including mobile services, collection services, and special collections and archives, in addition to system-wide programming and services.

Ms. Liguori is also an adjunct faculty member within the Master of Library and Information Science Online Program for the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver, teaching theoretical and conceptual foundations of management within library and information organizations. Some notable recent projects that she has been a part of include the 2025 Vibrant Denver Bond, which will provide over $41 million to repair and improve vital infrastructure and community spaces, and the Anderson Academic Commons, which was a $37 million renovation project for the University of Denver’s library system. Ms. Liguori holds a B.A. in Communications (with a minor in Gender & Women’s Studies) and Master of Library Science & Information Science from the University of Denver.

“After an exhaustive nationwide search, we are excited to have found Theresa,” remarked Library Board President Anthony Parlatore. “The Board and staff look forward to teaming with her in continuing to keep our library as the jewel of our community – an innovative, provocative, and fun place to learn, explore and experience all the resources modern libraries have to offer.”

In her free time, Ms. Liguori enjoys spending time with family, cooking, reading, going to movies and shows, and getting cuddles from the family’s Great Pyrenees, Casper.

Ms. Liguori stated, “I am extremely excited for this opportunity. This library is a cornerstone of knowledge, and it has built a strong foundation rooted in excellent service and civic engagement. I look forward to working collaboratively with the staff, trustees, and the community, to broaden the library’s vital role as a dynamic and inclusive center of belonging and connection.”

As Library Director, Ms. Liguori will bring her vision and leadership to the Three Village community, and all at the Library are eager to work with her and her wide-ranging expertise in service of the Library’s mission.

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”

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Please note: The Library is closed Monday, February 16 in observance of Presidents’ Day.

Volunteer at Hobbs Farm
Tuesday, February 17, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. 
Bethel Hobbs Community Farm is a volunteer-run farm that provides fresh, wholesome produce to those in need, through a network of local food pantries and soup kitchens. Teen & Tween Volunteers are needed to help cultivate the produce. Please dress for a mess and bring gardening gloves if you so desire. We will be volunteering in the greenhouse planting seeds. All teens and tweens must be accompanied by a supervising adult age 18 years or older. Library staff will also be in attendance. In the event of extreme weather, this program may be rescheduled or cancelled.  Earn 2 hours of community service credit for volunteering. Click here to register starting 1/13.

Teens and Tweens must complete the Library Teen & Tween Volunteering in the Community Application and Parental Consent Form before volunteering at Hobbs Farm: https://teen.emmaclark.org/library-volunteering/

Seed Packet Processing
Thursday, February 19, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Count, pack, and label seed packets for our Seed Library. Earn 1 hour of community service credit upon completion of the program. Click here to register starting 1/13.

Movie Night: Lisa Frankenstein
Friday, February 20, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Join your friends for a movie night at the Library. We’ll have snacks (Popcorn! Candy! More!) for this night of entertainment. Rated PG-13.Click here to register starting 1/13.

After Hours: Laser Tag at the Library
Saturday, February 21
Grab your friends and come play Laser Tag in the Library! We provide the gear, you provide the players! Players will be broken into teams and get to play at least 3 rounds of Laser Tag during the event. Battle it out with your friends to see who is the laser tag champion! Between rounds, games and snacks will be available in the “home base” room.
Library Staff will be on hand to moderate the games. This will be a locked-in event. The Library will be closed to all but the participants of this program. Players must have a permission form on file and arrive promptly for their assigned start time. Once in the Library building, players may not leave the building until their adult picks them up. Players will be asked to adhere to all rules and safety protocols, so we can all have the most fun possible. Please register for your grade-appropriate time slot only.
Grades 6 – 8, click here to register for the 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. timeslot starting 1/13.
Grades 9 – 12, click here to register for the 8:30 – 10:00 p.m. timeslot starting 1/13.

Nintendo Switch Tournament
Sunday, February 22, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Bring your friends and meet other gamers at this Nintendo Switch 2 Tournament! The Library will provide all equipment; you are welcome to bring your own wireless controllers, if you prefer. Snacks will be provided; winning teens and tweens get prizes. Click here to register starting 1/13.

Book & Movie Club: The Fault in Our Stars
Sunday, February 22, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
You’ve heard it said many times before, “The book was better than the movie!” But was it really? Check out and read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green then come to our Book and Movie Club to watch the 2014 movie version (rated PG-13). Led by Library Assistant Kiera. Discuss your opinion, get the chance to win a themed raffle, meet new friends, and eat snacks! Click here to register starting 1/13.

And don’t forget to sign your teen/tween up for Winter Reading!

Questions? Email teens@emmaclark.org