New Hyde Park Village Library Closes After 83 Years of Operation

By Margaret Whitely

The Village of New Hyde Park Library recently held a relocation ceremony to mark the transition of resources to the new library facility that will shortly open on Lakeville Road.

At the village library closing ceremonies are New Hyde Park Village Deputy Mayor Robert LoFaro and trustee Donald Barbieri, New Hyde Park Village Mayor Daniel Petruccio, Marie Carney, library board chairperson, long time library employee Pat Fitzpatrick, village librarian Nylah Schneider, long time employees Kathy Ferrara and Linda Minch, Nassau County Legislator Richard Nicolello and village clerk Patrick Farrell.

The village library has been in existence for 83 years but it has been housed at its current location, in the basement of New Hyde Park Village Hall, corner of New Hyde Park Road and Jericho Turnpike, since 1936.

How the Library Started

On April 16, 1924, a group of interested citizens formed the New Hyde Park Library Committee. The first meeting was held at the fire hall on Millers Lane. Attending the meeting were members of the civic club, the Parent Teachers association and the Board of Trade.

The group recognized the need for a library in the community and received permission to use part of Richerts Pharmacy, at 1219 Jericho Turnpike. The library opened on Dec. 3, 1924 with a supply of donated books and furniture. The postal district was used as the area from which residents could borrow books.

On Dec. 12, 1924, the residents voted to form the Public Library Association. Marcus Christ served as president and Anna M. Fielding was secretary. The Public Library Association held its last meeting on Jan. 11, 1929.

On Aug. 11, 1936, Mayor Herman Baer presided over a meeting with the organizations in the village to discuss establishing a library. He proposed they use a room in the recently acquired building at 1420 Jericho Turnpike. The village would provide heat, light janitorial services and a $500 allotment to purchase books. Present were representatives of the Federal National Youth Administration who agreed to supply the labor for the renovation. A librarian was furnished by the WPA.

The New Hyde Park Village Library opened to the pubic on Nov. 16, 1936 and the library was incorporated by the Regents of the State University, under a provisional charter on June 16, 1939. On Dec. 18, 1939, the library received a Certification of Registration from the University of the State of New York Department of Education in recognition of maintaining the proper standards of library service. On Dec. 17, 1948, the State Education Department awarded the New Hyde Park Library an Absolute Charter from the Board of Regents.