Rockville Centre Library

Library, a place for fun, learning

Although no one was allowed inside the Rockville Centre Public Library for three months because of Covid-19 restrictions enacted by Governor Cuomo, the library continued to provide patrons with the services they have come to rely on, only online. Even before the pandemic, the library provided Rockville Centre residents with the opportunity to rent e-books and audiobooks online using their library cards. Members of the library’s creative team also provided online programs that appealed to all ages.

Once restrictions were lifted, staff members returned to the building to provide a curbside pick-up option. Library Director Catherine Overton said the the staff hopes to offer “grab & go” services soon. Patrons would be allowed to enter the building for a set amount of time to select the materials they would like to borrow. Despite the fact the library was offering services online, staff said they want to give people the opportunity to take advantage of the more than 175,000 books available in-house. The selection includes large print, travel, vocational, graphic novels, Spanish and English as a Second Langauge books.

The Rockville Centre Public Library has a large media collection to choose from as well. CDs, video games, audio books, preloaded Kindles for all ages, Rokus and various streaming services are also available to anyone who wants to take advantage of them. Not only that, but databases and online archives are also available to facilitate research. Computers and WiFi are generally acces sible to all, and the librarians are always courteous and eager to lend a hand.

As a designated Family Place Library, the library usually provides programs to support early literacy among newborns. In normal circumstances, other events and programming for all ages would be taking place. Title swaps, book discussions, games and all different sorts of lectures on history, and even art and music, occur in the building.

The library is run by a five-member board of trustees, who are elected to their seats by the public. The board meets once a month. The current board comprises President Eileen Burke Bucaria, Vice President Susanne Morahan, Secretary Andrea Mahar and Trustees Michael Ludwig and Rebecca Nothel.