The Farmingdale Public Library celebrated eight decades of service last month with a variety of activities and events available to residents of all ages.

Among the activities available were "Read With a Rotarian: Winnie the Pooh Storytime," "Snack 'n Chat," "Velveteen Rabbit Storytime," and "Storybook Trick or Treat." In addition, youngsters enjoyed a "Happy Birthday Library Family Storytime" with family members, as well as a hieroglyphics workshop and a murder mystery.

Programs for adults included lectures, such as "Winfield Living in the Shadow of the Woolworths" and "Laurel and Hardy Lost in Laughter."

Although the original plan was to host a gala costume dinner dance as a culmination to the week-long activities, a lack of responses resulted in the library canceling the event. Instead, a reception was held on a Friday afternoon which, according to Library Director Debbie Podolski, was a great success and better than they could have imagined.

"It was very successful, our gallery was full of people attending helping us celebrate," she said. The celebration was held in the afternoon, which Podolski said was more convenient for residents, and the downstairs of the building was decorated with balloons. She noted that the anniversary cake quickly vanished and thanked Stewart Thomas Manor for their donation of 10 pounds of biscotti cookies. In addition, Paul Gatto, former president of the library board, and his band provided musical entertainment, which caused some spontaneous dancing.

"I think this was the perfect event. Anybody who was in the building came downstairs. We have some wonderful library supporters - [people who] really love our library and it was nice to get that positive feedback," Podolski said. "It was a wonderful affair."

Podolski noted that the library was very honored that local dignitaries and elected officials came to the event to show their support and present the establishment with citations and proclamation. She noted that Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, together with Councilman Joe Muscarella and Councilwoman-elect Rose Walker; in addition to Farmingdale Village Mayor Joseph Trudden and Judge Ken Diamond, stopped by to show their support.

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.

This summer, Podolski told of the history of the library during a speech she gave at one of the village pops concerts. She 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.

Podolski noted that library staff and representatives were excited to have the opportunity to hold an anniversary celebration. The library thanks all who attended and all those who support the establishment for helping them to be able to provide 80 years of community service.