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Library
Bellmore Libraries Bellmore Memorial Library 2288 Bedford Ave., Bellmore 11710 785-2990
TDirector: Elaine Cummings-Younghe Bellmore Memorial Library and the North Bellmore Public Library are both ingrained in the long history of the Bellmores and continue to serve as vital parts of the community. The Bellmores’ first library was organized by community members in 1948, a single room inside of a wooden schoolhouse with 150 books. More than 70 years later, the Bellmore Memorial Library and the North Bellmore Public Library serve as spacious, vibrant community centers, providing a wide range of programs and services to residents. In June 2018, the North Bellmore Public Library underwent a www.bellmorelibrary.org Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Wednesday 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Saturday (July, August) 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Saturday (September-June) significant expansion project that lasted until August 2019 — its only 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. real renovation since 1986. The library gained an additional 4,500 Sunday 1-5 p.m. square feet, making space for a new community room, a special- Sunday (July, August) Closed needs area, a fireplace for the adult room and a children’s library that nearly doubled in size. The library’s expansion and renovation North Bellmore design won an award for design excellence from the regional chapter Public Library of the American Institute of Architects. 1551 Newbridge Road,
The libraries’ services are especially valuable to the community North Bellmore 785-6260 during the summer when they kick off reading clubs and provide Director: TBD entertainment and enrichment for students who are out of school. www.northbellmorelibrary.org All summer programs were facilitated online this year. In response Hours: to Covid-19, the libraries created online events for all ages, including Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. exercise classes, book discussions, story time for children, and arts Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and crafts at the North Bellmore Public Library. Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday 1 - 5 p.m. Saturday (July-August) 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Merrick Library
2279 Merrick Ave., Merrick 11566 377-6112
Director: Dan Chuzmir www.merricklibrary.org
Regular Hours:
Monday-Wednesday 9 a.m. -9 p.m. Thursday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday noon - 5 p.m.
Pandemic Hours:
Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (curbside pickup and home delivery)
Christina Daly/Herald Top Photo: In a race against the clock, Philip Chou, 11, helped his team decipher riddles and clues to stop a fictitious meteor from destroying the Bellmore Memorial Library during an Escape Room in 2019.
North Merrick Public Library
1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick 11566 378-7474 Director: Susan Santa www.northmerrickpubliclibrary.org
Regular Hours:
Summer Hours:
Pages continue to turn in Bellmore’s libraries
The Bellmore Memorial Library and North Bellmore Public Library have bolstered their digital presences to bring patrons together amid the pandemic. They now offer a wide variety of eBooks, audio books, digital magazines, movies, databases and other online materials to keep readers learning from home.
The libraries’ services are especially valuable to the community during the warmer months when they kick off summer reading clubs and provide entertainment and enrichment for students out of school. All summer programs were carried out online this year. By signing up and writing at least one book review each week, participants were entered into raffles for the chance to win prizes. The libraries also created online events for all ages, including exercise classes, book discussions, story times for children, and arts and crafts sessions.
The Bellmore Memorial Library’s newest 3D printers — which were acquired shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic — were put to good use to help alleviate a shortage of personal protective equipment that threatened operations at Nassau County hospitals. More than 100 plastic face shields were printed and distributed to front-line workers.
The Bellmore Memorial Library is open for browsing and in-person checkout of materials. They are following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public health recommendations indoors. Outdoor book drops continue to be used for returns, and curbside pickup remained an option for those who did not want to enter. To ensure the safety of library staff and patrons, in-person programming and computer use were not available. Some in-person events have also made a comeback.
The North Bellmore Public Library also opened for in-person browsing, and is still offering contactless pickup of library materials via requests made online or by phone. For more information about checking out materials, visit the online catalogue at www.northbellmorelibrary.org.
Andrew Garcia/Herald Above Photo: The North Bellmore Public Library staff was excited to reopen and welcome patrons back into the building.
