In celebrating eight decades of service to the Farmingdale community, the Farmingdale Public Library is planning events throughout the week of Oct. 19. The week-long activities will culminate with a Gatsby Gala Costume Dinner Dance, scheduled to take place on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 7 to 11 p.m.

During the week, the library will offer programs for children, teens and adults. Children can enjoy "Read With a Rotarian: Winnie the Pooh Storytime" on Monday, Oct. 20 at 10:30 a.m. This program is available for children ages 2 1/2 to 5 and a parent. "Snack 'n Chat" will be held for children grades four through six on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 4:15 p.m. "Velveteen Rabbit Storytime" will be held for children ages 2 1/2 to 5 and a parent on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 1:30 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 25, children of all ages can enjoy "Storybook Trick or Treat" from 10 a.m. to noon. Also on the 25th, "Happy Birthday Library Family Storytime" will be held at 2 p.m. for children of all ages. A Hieroglyphics Workshop will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. for children in grades three through five and a Murder Mystery will be held at 2 p.m. on Oct. 25 for grades six and up.

Programs for adults include the Gatsby Gala Costume Party Dinner Dance on the 25th; "The 1920's Dinner Experience" to be held on Monday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.; a lecture on "Winfield Living in the Shadow of the Woolworths" on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. and a lecture on "Laurel and Hardy Lost in Laughter" on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m.

The Farmingdale Public Library received its charter in 1923. The 1920s was a decade when jazz was hep, flappers were the bee's knees, Winnie the Pooh was born, gangsters were spiffy, King Tut's Tomb was opened, Mah Jong was the rage and the bob hairdo was the cat's meow and the library chose to use events from the decade as the themes for its anniversary celebration.

The Farmingdale Library, which was established in the period after WWI and before the Great Depression, came about from a vision of the Women's Club of Farmingdale to establish a simple library for people to borrow books and get into the library habit. On Sept. 20, 1923, the University of the State of New York granted a provisional charter incorporating nine residents as the first trustees of the Farmingdale Free Library.

Earlier this summer, Library Director Debbie Podolski told of the history of the library during a speech she gave at one of the village pops concerts. Podolski explained that the first location of the library was in the Kolkebeck House from 1923 until it was demolished in 1929 to build the Main Street School, the current site of Waldbaum's. The library was then moved into the school building and combined with the school library. A group known as the Friends of the Library was established in 1951 and promoted the idea of separating the public library from the school library.

After a series of moves, the library moved to the bank building at Main and Conklin in 1959, now the Library Café and opened the South Farmingdale branch in 1961, now the site of CVS. Due to increased population and demand for library services, the two branches were combined and the new library on Merritts Road was opened in 1994.

Excited to have served the community for eight decades, Podolski noted that library trustees are thrilled to be holding these week-long celebrations for the establishment's 80th anniversary.

All residents are invited to come out and help celebrate by joining in the many festivities, including the much-anticipated Gatsby Gala Costume Dinner Dance on Oct. 25. Tickets are $42 per person and include a catered buffet dinner, musical entertainment and dancing. Door prizes will be available from Manker's Florist, Library Café, Bollinger's, Applebees and many more. 1920s costumes are optional but the fun is guaranteed. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available now by calling the library at 249-9090.