Film screening & discussion of HBO documentary. Three 10 year-olds from different parts of the world compete in the annual International Holy Koran Competition in Cairo, Egypt. For adults and children. | Program details » >>
The library budget vote passed, 300-103. Lisa Mitnick was re-elected to the Board of Trustees.
Thank you for your support!
Annual Message and Budget Information
From the Board of Trustees
We are proud to announce that for the sixth year in a row the library has received a Five Star rating from Library Journal. The recognition takes into account patron visits, circulation of materials, program offerings and internet public use. Our borrowers checked out nearly 1,100,000 items; 77,000 patrons of all ages attended programs; more than 750 community group meetings were held; and more than 510,000 visitors passed through our doors. 2013 was another busy year for the library!
We’ve embraced the world of technology while continuing to be the community’s hub and your neighborhood library. Regardless of age, stage in life, special interests or enthusiasms, we have something for you. Need a good book or DVD? Are you considering a new career path? Do you need assistance with your mobile device or library online resource? Would you like to attend a musical performance? Are you wondering how you can help your child succeed in school? The Library is here for you.
As part of our annual message, we provide a summary of next year’s budget. The proposed 2014/2015 budget reflects an increase of 1.7%, which is below the tax cap limitation.
Our goal is to continue to provide exemplary service, programs, and resources and remain a steady local employer. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm.
Click here to view the 2014-2015 budget information.
Click here to view the Trustee Election information.
Library Budget Vote & Trustee Election
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
at the Centereach Building
101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach, NY 11720
In order to vote you must be:
- A citizen of the United States
- 18 years of age or older
- Registered to vote*
- A resident of Middle Country School District #11 for at least 30 days prior ot the vote
* You are registered if you have voted in a general, school, or library election within the last four years. If you have not, you may register on Tuesday, April 1st between 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Centereach Building.
Absentee ballot applications are available at the Customer Service Desk.
Lisa Mitnick
Lisa Mitnick (formerly Canari) has served on the Middle Country Public Library Board of Trustees since September of 2007. A resident of the Middle Country School District for 28 years, Mitnick is no stranger to the Middle Country Public Library, having worked there for six years while in high school and college. “I started out as a page in high school. After graduating college, I went on to work full-time in marketing but remained involved by joining the Women’s Expo Planning Committee. The library has given so much to me and my family that I was happy to serve on the Board.” Ms. Mitnick graduated from the New York Institute of Technology in June of 1997 with a B.S. in Communication Arts. She left People’s Alliance Federal Credit Union in 2008 where she was the Senior Marketing/PR Manager for nine years. While there, she was responsible for strategic planning and implementation of the marketing and public relations department. She currently works as a part-time Sales Representative for DomTy Promotions in Bay Shore. This position allows her to spend more time with her eight-year-old daughter, Isabella and three-year-old daughter, Gianna.
In addition to serving on the Library Board, Mitnick is currently involved in Holbrook Road’s PTA. In the past, Lisa has served on the Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce Board; Smithtown Central School District’s Industry Advisory Board; and the Sachem School District’s Business Alliance. Ms. Mitnick lives in Centereach with her husband Keith and their daughters, Isabella and Gianna.
Return to Annual Message and Budget Information.
211 Long Island – Community Resource Database of Long Island
Catastrophe Readiness Clearinghouse
Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Book Lists
| Level A | Level K | Level U |
| Level B | Level L | Level V |
| Level C | Level M | Level W |
| Level D | Level N | Level X |
| Level E | Level O | Level Y |
| Level F | Level P | Level Z |
| Level G | Level Q | Level LB |
| Level H | Level R | Level WB |
| Level I | Level S | |
| Level J | Level T |
What is the Teen Art Gallery?
It’s an online collection of pieces from our annual Teens Create @ MCPL art show that features paintings, photography, fashion, sculpture, and creative writing from local teens that have been displayed in our Teen Resource Center in Selden for the past few years.
You can now view accepted submissions online now at the Middle Country Public Library Digital Collections: Teen Art Gallery.
If you have any questions about the Teen Art Gallery or the Teens Create @ MCPL Art Show, please see any young adult librarian.
Give yourself some time to chill out this summer, kick back and read!
Join a reading club today!
Children’s Reading Club
Dig into a great book! Families are invited to join this year’s Summer Reading Program, Dig Into Reading. Learn about dirt, gardens, dinosaurs, construction, buried treasure, insects, and the great outdoors as you dig into a good book. This year’s program will include lots of interesting reads, fun prizes and exciting summer reading club party.
Little Diggers: Read-to-me: Birth-5 years old
Wiggly Worms: School age: Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Garden Gnomes: School age: 3rd – 6th grade
For teens entering 6th -12th grade. School’s out and readers can look ahead to an entire summer of fun. Join our teen summer reading club and explore novels set in subterranean worlds or discover the history of past civilizations. Find books about characters who are just like you “beneath the surface” and discover new interests like steampunk or underground music. Create your own adventure through books while earning prices! Teens who complete six or more books will be entered into a raffle to win additional giveaways at our End of Summer event on Thursday, August 22nd. | Join the Club
Hey! Why should the kids have all the fun? You too can enjoy six weeks of books, audiobooks, eBooks of your own choosing. Join the Groundbreaking Adult Reading Club, set new goals for yourself, and collect some neat prizes along the way! Read, relax and have a grand old time. | Join the Club or Submit Your Review
Visit our Readers’ Advisory page for new ideas! CLICK HERE This page is available year round from the featured Adults menu on the homepage.
Remember you can select the Middle Country Reads “The Lost Wife” by Alyson 
Richman as one of your choices for this Summer Reading Club. | Read More
In an effort to make our Museum Pass program available to the widest range of patrons, we ask that you read the following guidelines:
- The library circulates a limited number of passes to area museums. Reservations may be made online via Tixkeeper, our fully automated calendar based system, which is accessible by following the links on the library webpage. Patrons may also make reservations in person at the Children’s reference desk or by calling us at 585-9393 ext. 108. Museum passes can be reserved up to 60 days in advance.
- Museum passes are for Middle Country district residents only. Patrons must be 19 years of age and older and hold a valid, unexpired, unblocked, library card with fines not exceeding $7.50 to use the reservation system.
- Museum passes can be picked up during regular business hours at the Youth Services desk at the Centereach building. The passes must be returned to the Centereach building, in either the automated drop-off or at the Customer Services desk.
- Each patron can have a maximum of 4 passes on request at any moment and no more than 1 for each particular museum.
- Passes are lent out for a period of two days and cannot be renewed. The pass must be returned to the Centereach building prior to closing on the third day. For example, if you plan to visit a museum on Saturday, you can pick up your pass on Friday and return it before closing on Sunday. If the library is closed on the day the pass is due, the pass will be due by closing the next day the library is open. Reserve the pass for the day you plan to pick it up at the library.
- A fee of $10.00 will be charged for any pass returned late. A non-refundable fee of $25.00 will be charged to any person who loses a pass.
- The library has a limited number of passes and therefore if a pass comes back late or is lost, the library may not be able to honor reservations.
- The library reserves the right to review and amend these guidelines as it becomes necessary.
PLEASE CALL OR CHECK THE MUSEUM’S WEBSITE TO VERIFY HOURS OF OPERATION
PRIOR TO REQUESTING A PASS
A year long series at Middle Country Public Library in partnership with the Islamic Association of Long Island – Selden Masjid.
The Bridging Cultures: Muslim Journeys Bookshelf grant was awarded to over 900 public and academic libraries through a joint effort of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association. Funding for the development and distribution of the Bookshelf grants is provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. These Bookshelf grants are to highlight the importance of civility in American life and the role of libraries in fostering community conversations which bring the humanities alive to the public. The Chairman of the Bridging Cultures initiative, Jim Leach, said, “There may be no institution more civil than the public library. Libraries are centers of learning that offer a welcome space where members of the public can learn about the history we share and express different points in an ethos of openness and mutual respect.” This award consists of a collection of 26 books, 3 films, and a year’s access to the Oxford Islamic Studies Online research database. There are five themes, each developed by a nationally known scholar, which provide the context for reading, viewing, and discussing.
Featured Bridging Cultures Program
-
Koran by Heart Film Screening
-
Book Discussion: The Butterfly Mosque
Discussion of G. Willow Wilson's The Butterfly Mosque: A Young American Woman's Journey to Love and Islam. | Program details » >>
-
Turkish Erbu
Join Yasemin Ozavasci to try your hand at the Turkish art of paper marbling. | Program details » >>
Adult Books
Muslim Journeys - Adult
|
|
| Friday Fun Flick: Snow Buddies (J844) |
Family Chess Club (A537)
|
Looking for a good book?
The MCPL’s Readers’ Advisory page is dedicated to connecting readers to fiction and nonfiction books that they will enjoy. This page features fiction and nonfiction bestsellers, new titles and books from popular genres such as historical fiction, romance and mystery. You can also sign up for newsletters that will be delivered right to your inbox by clicking on the NextRead’s link. Check back periodically for updates!
Featured Genres
Readers' Advisory Picks
MCPL Staff Picks
Readers' Advisory Picks
Best Sellers: Fiction
Readers' Advisory Picks
Best Sellers: Non-Fiction
Readers' Advisory Picks
Historical Fiction
Readers' Advisory Picks
Mystery and Suspense
Readers' Advisory Picks
Romance
Readers' Advisory Picks
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Readers' Advisory Picks
Audiobook Fiction
Readers' Advisory Picks
Audiobook Non-Fiction
Middle Country Public Library
Middle Country Public Library (MCPL) serves as a dynamic community hub with comprehensive programs and services that meet the needs of local residents and, through grants and fund raising, provides leadership and training for libraries across Long Island and the nation. Since its inception in the mid-1950s, the library has been redefining the public library. Working in partnership with the business, social service, health, education, civic and philanthropic communities, Middle Country has evolved into a forward thinking organization, willing to learn about and adopt concepts from other industries, and then integrate them within the public library setting.
Over the years, the Library has drawn from business world models to develop entrepreneurial solutions to funding issues, while broadening the scope, reach, and definition of what a library can be. MCPL has created an immensely successful and flexible model of library service that is consumer driven and, through its willingness to partner with other organizations, has given rise to new and innovative service models. It is this entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit that has helped MCPL grow from its humble beginnings in the 1950s to the Long Island institution it is today.
Library
News & Recognition
Annual Message and Budget Information
Annual Message and Budget Information From the Board of Trustees We are proud to announce that for the sixth year in a row the library has received a Five Star rating from Library Journal. The recognition takes into account patron visits, circulation of materials, program offerings and internet public use. Our borrowers checked out nearly [...]. | Read More >>
Help for the Hearing Impaired
Hearing Loop now available in Centereach The library is pleased to announce the availability of a Hearing Loop system in the Community Room in the Centereach building. The hearing loop transmits sound through an installed wire that “loops” around a portion of the room allowing patrons with hearing aids to pick up the signal. The [...]. | Read More >>
Motorola Solution Foundation Awards $20,000 to support Math Buddies
Motorola Solution Foundation Awards $20,000 to support the Jumpstart Science Initiative: Math Buddies, an innovative program that pairs teens with children in Kindergarten through 2nd grade. The goal of the program is to incorporate the ideals of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiative into the learning process. Prior to serving as a Math [...]. | Read More >>
These programs will highlight the fantastic history, recreation & geography of Long Island
Hiking Long Island (A249)
Monday, May 12, 2014 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Selden
Nothing is better than a trek through the great outdoors. Naturalist and author, Lee McAllister, will discuss hiking on Long Island including the geology, history, flora, fauna and topographical features that make Long Island an interesting place to hike in any season.
Eggs, Nests and Baby Birds (A285)
Tuesday, May 13, 2014 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Selden
Spring and summer are busy times for birds. Learn about the exhausting work of parenting birds and the different life history strategies of some of our favorite avain friends. Join Educator Sue Krause and find out what birds may be building nests in your neighborhood.
Local Agriculture: Past, Present and Future (A355)
Friday, June 6, 2014 7:00 – 8:45 p.m. – Centereach
Join food and nutrition educator Timothy Williams as he leads us on a journey of Long Island’s rich agricultural history, from its origins to the latest trends in farming. He’ll highlight sustainable and organic farming methods and farms, as well as operating farmer’s markets, and Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs in our area. Find the value of locally-grown and raised food, and discover some amazing facts about the history of Long Island agriulture.
World of Wine (A336)
Monday, June 9, 2014 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Selden
Thinking of taking tours of the Long Island wineries this summer? Learn more about the history of wine, types of wine, health benefits and how to successfully pair the right wine with your meals. We will also learn more about local wineries.
Visit to Hobbs Farm (A226)
Thursday, May 8, 2014 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Hobbs Farm, Centereach
At this hands-on program at Hobbs Farm, you will learn general garden techniques and farm chores that will make a bountiful harvest this season. All experience levels welcome. Participation is recommended but not mandatory.
Long Island Reads – Book Discussion: The Manor (A247)
Thursday, April 17, 2014 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. – Centereach
Join us for a lively book discussion. Bring your thoughts and a friend. We’ll be reading novels, non-fiction and some mysteries! April17 – Long Island Reads, THE MANOR, by Mac Griswold.
LI Reads Documentary – The Sugar Connection (A323)
Thursday, April 24, 2014 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Centereach
This film documents the eight-year archaeological dig at Sylvester Manor. It reveals the Dutch influence on Long Island in the 17th century, along with the importance of the trade networks established with sugar plantations on Barbados. Filmmaker Dr. Gaynell Stone, also director of the Suffolk County Archaeological Association, will introduce the film and answer any questions.
LI Reads – Sylvester Manor (A363)
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 9:00 am – 5:00 p.m.
Sylvester Manor, covering 243 acres on Shelter Island, has been held in the same family for eleven generations. It captures the history of Long Island as well as our nation in all its richness and suffering. The book, THE MANOR, by Mac Griswold, which tells its story is the 2014 Long Island Reads award winner. We will take the ferry from Greenport to visit Sylvester Manor, where we will be touring the house, the grounds and visit their farm stand. After our ferry ride back to Greenport, we will stay awhile in town for some shopping and lunch on your own.
Please let us know in advance if you require any special accommodations due to a disability.
Lisa’s Bio
Return to Annual Message and Budget Information.
Annual Message and Budget Information
From the Board of Trustees
We are proud to announce that for the sixth year in a row the library has received a Five Star rating from Library Journal. The recognition takes into account patron visits, circulation of materials, program offerings and internet public use. Our borrowers checked out nearly 1,100,000 items; 77,000 patrons of all ages attended programs; more than 750 community group meetings were held; and more than 510,000 visitors passed through our doors. 2013 was another busy year for the library!
We’ve embraced the world of technology while continuing to be the community’s hub and your neighborhood library. Regardless of age, stage in life, special interests or enthusiasms, we have something for you. Need a good book or DVD? Are you considering a new career path? Do you need assistance with your mobile device or library online resource? Would you like to attend a musical performance? Are you wondering how you can help your child succeed in school? The Library is here for you.
As part of our annual message, we provide a summary of next year’s budget. The proposed 2014/2015 budget reflects an increase of 1.7%, which is below the tax cap limitation.
Our goal is to continue to provide exemplary service, programs, and resources and remain a steady local employer. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm.
Click here to view the 2014-2015 budget information.
Click here to view the Trustee Election information.
Library Budget Vote & Trustee Election
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
at the Centereach Building
101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach, NY 11720
In order to vote you must be:
- A citizen of the United States
- 18 years of age or older
- Registered to vote*
- A resident of Middle Country School District #11 for at least 30 days prior ot the vote
* You are registered if you have voted in a general, school, or library election within the last four years. If you have not, you may register on Tuesday, April 1st between 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Centereach Building.
Absentee ballot applications are available at the Customer Service Desk.
Are You Money Wise?
ID Theft (A221)*
Friday, January 10, 2014 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Selden
If you or someone you know has ever been a victim of identity theft, you know how time consuming, costly and painful it can be. At the Identity Theft workshop, you’ll learn what identity theft is, how thieves get and use your personal information, how to protect yourself and what to do if you are a victim.
Using Your Computer for Your Home Finances (A222)*
Tuesday, January 14, 2014 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Centereach
Use your spreadsheet program to help manage your personal finances: learn how to create a check register and format for bank reconciliation, keep track of investments and expenses, and create a simple database.
Kick Your Debt To the Curb (A220)*
Thursday, January 23, 2014 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. – Selden
A certified consumer credit counselor will discuss strategies for getting debt under control, including credit card debt, student loans and collection debt. Our program will explore working with a nonprofit credit counseling agency and credit card companies, some new loan forgiveness programs and ways of dealing with debt collectors.
Are You Saving Enough for Retirement? (A223)*
Thursday, January 30, 2014 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Selden
Retirement! So far off, yet so near. Do you know if you have enough savings to retire? What does it take to ensure a comfortable
retirement? Whether you are 30, 40, 50 or older, the workshop will help you in planning for a better retirement.
What Every Homeowner Should Know (A226)*
Tuesday, February 4, 2014 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. – Centereach
Are you concern about your home and how to keep your mortgage healthy? A home is a wealth building tool, are you building your wealth? Join us for this informative program about everything a homeowner should know!
Would You Like a Financial Coach? (A227)*
Wednesday, February 19, 2014 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Selden
Preparing for college expenses? Need to obtain a car? Looking to buy your first home? Community Development Corporation of Long Island, a HUD approved Housing Counseling agency, will have a Financial Coach available to answer questions about credit and reaching your financial goals.
*All program open to public.
Please let us know in advance if you require any special accommodations due to a disability.
The Allstate Foundation has awarded a $35,000 grant to support the library’s Allstate Readiness Series, a year-long series providing programs on Teen Safe Driving and Financial Empowerment for women, particularly survivors of domestic violence. For more information on this series, visit www.readinessbeginswithme.org or call Lori Abbatepaolo at 585-9393 ext. 295.
Pictured l-r: Sue Bohrer-Braun and Michele Martin, Allstate agents; Allison McMahon, regional division manager, Allstate Foundation and Sara Fade, librarian.
Saturday, March 29th From 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. Centereach Building
If you are a kid in grades K-12 who loves to create, invent, learn and explore, join us at the Maker Fair and enjoy projects created by other Middle Country students who participate in Makerspace workshops. Makerspaces are do-it-yourself places where you can gather to share ideas and talents while using a wide variety of materials, tools and technologies. Families are invited to join us to learn about Makerspaces, tinker about, and produce their very own creations. The possibilities are endless! For further information, please contact Kristine Tanzi at 631-585-9393 ext. 230 or tanzikristine@middlecountrypubliclibrary.org.
Friday, January 10th From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Kick off 2014 with good friends, food and fun! Dance the afternoon away with the New York Exceptions as they play your favorites from the 50s and 60s. The library’s 19th annual Ring in the New Year happens on January 10th, don’t miss it!
SAVE THE DATE:
Saturday, January 18th From 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Centereach Building
Are you considering a nursery school or preschool program for your toddler or tot? Don’t miss the library’s Nursery School Fair. Representatives will be on hand at the Centereach building to answer questions and help you choose the best school for your child.
Are you a teen who loves to be creative? Do you express yourself through art? Submit original sketches, paintings, sculptures, photography, short stories and poetry to be featured in the 5th Annual Teens Create @ MCPL Art Show at the Selden building’s Teen Resource Center.
Artwork will be on display from March 3 to March 31, 2014. Artists and their families will be invited to attend the opening reception on Monday, March 3 in recognition of the many talented participants. Artist guidelines and registration forms, which should be submitted with your artwork between February 7-14, 2014, are available online or at any reference desk. For more information please contact Kristine Tanzi at 631-585-9393 ext. 230 or tanzikristine@ middlecountrypubliclibrary.org.
Patron AnnaNicole Pisani has participated in the Teens Create @ MCPL Art Show for the past four years. We are proud to announce that she was accepted into the Montserrat College of Art in Massachusetts, and started this September.
Introducing Zinio, our new digital magazine collection! You will love the convenience of reading your favorites like Rolling Stone, O!, Macworld, Men’s Fitness, Forbes, and Food Network Magazine, and exploring a selection of 50 additional titles available through our eDownload service. Experience the convenience of Zinio – your magazines anytime, anywhere. Simply visit the adult services section of our website and click eDownloads to get started.
Are you considering a new career path? Would you like to improve your job skills? Looking for alternatives to college? Thinking about becoming an entrepreneur? With support from Bank of America, the Miller Business Center will be offering Pathways to Career Success, a series of workshops geared towards improving job readiness in our region. Programs will cover job search strategies, resume writing, workplace etiquette, business planning and much more. The next series of workshops will be held this spring. One -on-one guidance from Miller staff is available now. For more information please contact Alex Blend at 631-585-9393 ext. 272 or blendalex@middlecountrypubliclibrary.org.
Pictured l-r: Elizabeth Malafi, coordinator, Miller Business Center, Sophia Serlis- McPhillips, library director; Mario Ruggiero, senior vice president and Lorraine Aycock, market development manager, Bank of America
Middle Country Public Library is looking for your historical, vintage pictures of yesteryear that show how life used to be in the Centereach and Selden area for a local book project.
If you have any photographs of historical Middle Country you would like to contribute, please contact Theresa Arroyo at (631) 585-9393 ext. 294.
EatPlayGrow™ Curriculum
EatPlayGrow™ is a new early childhood health curriculum and the first to be federally approved by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Center for Disease Control (CDC). In partnership with the NIH, Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) adapted the We Can!®obesity prevention program (originally for ages 8-13) to create EatPlayGrow™ for use with children ages 6 and younger and their adult caregivers. This curriculum combines the latest science and research from the NIH with CMOM’s holistic arts and literacy-based approach to engage families and adults who work with young children with creative programs and consistent health messages in informal and formal learning environments.
Bring EatPlayGrow™ to your community!
The curriculum offers a series of 11 healthy lifestyle lessons with hands-on activities, essential facts and simple strategies that make healthy choices fun and easy to include in daily routines—at home, at school or in the community. Each educational lesson is aligned with the appropriate National Pre-K Health Performance Standards and addresses the multiple ways children learn through storytelling, art-making, music and movement activities to teach the importance of making positive choices in the areas that most affect health: nutrition, physical activity and sleep.
Designed for use by families, educators, home-based childcare providers, community organizers, health advocates, librarians and others who work with young children, the EatPlayGrow™ curriculum can be easily adapted into family life and existing programming, or stand alone as its own health unit!
CMOM offers Professional Development trainings at the museum and a special series of webinars with the NIH starting in January 2014. Click here for more information.
Download the EatPlayGrow™ curriculum and start learning now!
CMOM’s National Outreach Dissemination Partners
As part of its EatSleepPlay™ health initiative, CMOM has tested the EatPlayGrow™ curriculum with families and caregivers. By leveraging and connecting CMOM’s relationships with the National Head Start Association, Association of Children’s Museums, and Family Place Libraries–in addition to the NIH’s 1,000 We Can!® community partner sites–and as a Let’s Move! Museum partner, the EatSleepPlay™ initiative will be replicated through existing national networks with tremendous reach at the grassroots level in order to improve health and education services in high-need communities.
The following partners will help CMOM disseminate the EatPlayGrow™ curriculum free of charge throughout the country to their constituent organizations:
Association of Children’s Museums
National Head Start Association
Contact slim@cmom.org to learn how to join the EatPlayGrow™ a dissemination network.
The EatPlayGrow™: curriculum has been developed with the generous support of the Laurie M.Tisch Illumination Fund; the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency; W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Goldman Sachs Gives; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; United Way of New York City; Walmart Foundation; Joan Ganz Cooney Fund at the New York Community Trust; and Amherst Foundation.
Congratulations to “The Tributes of Middle Country”, who won the 2012 Suffolk County Battle of the Books!
The 2012 Battle of the Books was held on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at Javits Lecture Center, Stony Brook University. The Suffolk County Battle of the Books program is an inter-library competition between teams of teens (students entering grades 6-9 in the fall) focused on 8 young adult novels. The competition is divided into two back-to-back 4-hour Regional Competitions and an Awards Night. At the Regional Competition, each team gets to participate in 4 separate rounds. Each round covers 2 of the 8 books and each team is given 20 questions per round. Titles to be covered in each round are announced in advance but not specifically mentioned in the questions. At the Awards Night, the top 2 scoring teams from each region competed for the County Championship.
Congratulations to all who participated in this year’s Battle of the Books. Special thanks to our coaches, teens, parents, and all volunteers who helped to make this year’s Battle of the Books a success.
Need help writing your resume?
Thinking of starting a new career?
Want to ace your next interview?
Make an appointment with one of our career counselors. Available for district residents ages 14 and up, career counselors provide confidential appointments for employment, occupational and college counseling. Appointments are available at various times in both buildings.
For further information or to make an appointment, please call the Miller Business Resource Center Desk at 631-585-9393 ext. 133.
Faster and More Convenient Service!
Come in and see our upgraded customer service areas – the result of our Customer Service Modernization Project. Try our touch-screen self-check and automated return stations for speedier checkout and a more effective return process; check out multiple items simultaneously; tap the kiosk screen to print a receipt for your borrowed items; use the 24/7 drive up return station in Centereach. Staff members will always be available to help you navigate the system and expedite your transaction.
This cost-saving, state-of-the-art system has been implemented at libraries across the country, and has received enthusiastic response from patrons who appreciate the fast, efficient service. Staff members are freed from routine tasks and can assume more interesting and challenging roles – working with library programs and providing notary, fax, computer and online services. Clearly a win-win situation, we are sure you will appreciate the upgraded service.
Question/Answer Fact Sheets are available at the library or on our website at www.mcpl.lib.ny.us. For further information, please contact Sophia Serlis-McPhillips at 631-585-9393 ext. 219 or serlismc@mcpl.lib.ny.us.
Hearing Loop now available in Centereach
The library is pleased to announce the availability of a Hearing Loop system in the Community Room in the Centereach building. The hearing loop transmits sound through an installed wire that “loops” around a portion of the room allowing patrons with hearing aids to pick up the signal. The signal is directed to a part of a hearing aid called a T-Coil enabling the loop to eliminate distracting background noise and reverberation. The Loop will be available during any program in which an audiovisual component system is used, including film, musical performances, and speaking engagements. The system’s installation was made possible by a generous donation from the Foundation for Sight & Sound. For further information, please contact Sal DiVincenzo at 631-585-9393 ext. 216.
Motorola Solution Foundation Awards $20,000 to support the Jumpstart Science Initiative: Math Buddies, an innovative program that pairs teens with children in Kindergarten through 2nd grade. The goal of the program is to incorporate the ideals of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiative into the learning process. Prior to serving as a Math Buddy, teens participate in training sessions to learn math and mentoring skills and strategies, and to integrate technology into the learning experience.
During the sessions, teens mentor their buddies in math concepts, play web-based math games, use iPads with interactive math applications and read aloud to their partners. Each session of the Math Buddies program focuses on a specific topic, such as money, addition and subtraction, data and graphs, patterns, time and measurement.
On Long Island
These programs will highlight the fantastic history, recreation & geography of Long Island
Hiking Long Island (A249)
Monday, May 12, 2014 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Selden
Nothing is better than a trek through the great outdoors. Naturalist and author, Lee McAllister, will discuss hiking on Long Island including the geology, history, flora, fauna and topographical features that make Long Island an interesting place to hike in any season.
Eggs, Nests and Baby Birds (A285)
Tuesday, May 13, 2014 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Selden
Spring and summer are busy times for birds. Learn about the exhausting work of parenting birds and the different life history strategies of some of our favorite avain friends. Join Educator Sue Krause and find out what birds may be building nests in your neighborhood.
Local Agriculture: Past, Present and Future (A355)
Friday, June 6, 2014 7:00 – 8:45 p.m. – Centereach
Join food and nutrition educator Timothy Williams as he leads us on a journey of Long Island’s rich agricultural history, from its origins to the latest trends in farming. He’ll highlight sustainable and organic farming methods and farms, as well as operating farmer’s markets, and Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs in our area. Find the value of locally-grown and raised food, and discover some amazing facts about the history of Long Island agriulture.
World of Wine (A336)
Monday, June 9, 2014 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Selden
Thinking of taking tours of the Long Island wineries this summer? Learn more about the history of wine, types of wine, health benefits and how to successfully pair the right wine with your meals. We will also learn more about local wineries.
Visit to Hobbs Farm (A226)
Thursday, May 8, 2014 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Hobbs Farm, Centereach
At this hands-on program at Hobbs Farm, you will learn general garden techniques and farm chores that will make a bountiful harvest this season. All experience levels welcome. Participation is recommended but not mandatory.
Long Island Reads – Book Discussion: The Manor (A247)
Thursday, April 17, 2014 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. – Centereach
Join us for a lively book discussion. Bring your thoughts and a friend. We’ll be reading novels, non-fiction and some mysteries! April17 – Long Island Reads, THE MANOR, by Mac Griswold.
LI Reads Documentary – The Sugar Connection (A323)
Thursday, April 24, 2014 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Centereach
This film documents the eight-year archaeological dig at Sylvester Manor. It reveals the Dutch influence on Long Island in the 17th century, along with the importance of the trade networks established with sugar plantations on Barbados. Filmmaker Dr. Gaynell Stone, also director of the Suffolk County Archaeological Association, will introduce the film and answer any questions.
LI Reads – Sylvester Manor (A363)
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 9:00 am – 5:00 p.m.
Sylvester Manor, covering 243 acres on Shelter Island, has been held in the same family for eleven generations. It captures the history of Long Island as well as our nation in all its richness and suffering. The book, THE MANOR, by Mac Griswold, which tells its story is the 2014 Long Island Reads award winner. We will take the ferry from Greenport to visit Sylvester Manor, where we will be touring the house, the grounds and visit their farm stand. After our ferry ride back to Greenport, we will stay awhile in town for some shopping and lunch on your own.
Please let us know in advance if you require any special accommodations due to a disability.
Annual Message and Budget Information
Annual Message and Budget Information
From the Board of Trustees
We are proud to announce that for the sixth year in a row the library has received a Five Star rating from Library Journal. The recognition takes into account patron visits, circulation of materials, program offerings and internet public use. Our borrowers checked out nearly 1,100,000 items; 77,000 patrons of all ages attended programs; more than 750 community group meetings were held; and more than 510,000 visitors passed through our doors. 2013 was another busy year for the library!
We’ve embraced the world of technology while continuing to be the community’s hub and your neighborhood library. Regardless of age, stage in life, special interests or enthusiasms, we have something for you. Need a good book or DVD? Are you considering a new career path? Do you need assistance with your mobile device or library online resource? Would you like to attend a musical performance? Are you wondering how you can help your child succeed in school? The Library is here for you.
As part of our annual message, we provide a summary of next year’s budget. The proposed 2014/2015 budget reflects an increase of 1.7%, which is below the tax cap limitation.
Our goal is to continue to provide exemplary service, programs, and resources and remain a steady local employer. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm.
Click here to view the 2014-2015 budget information.
Click here to view the Trustee Election information.
Library Budget Vote & Trustee Election
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
at the Centereach Building
101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach, NY 11720
In order to vote you must be:
- A citizen of the United States
- 18 years of age or older
- Registered to vote*
- A resident of Middle Country School District #11 for at least 30 days prior ot the vote
* You are registered if you have voted in a general, school, or library election within the last four years. If you have not, you may register on Tuesday, April 1st between 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Centereach Building.
Absentee ballot applications are available at the Customer Service Desk.
Capital One Financial Literacy Challenge
Are You Money Wise?
ID Theft (A221)*
Friday, January 10, 2014 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Selden
If you or someone you know has ever been a victim of identity theft, you know how time consuming, costly and painful it can be. At the Identity Theft workshop, you’ll learn what identity theft is, how thieves get and use your personal information, how to protect yourself and what to do if you are a victim.
Using Your Computer for Your Home Finances (A222)*
Tuesday, January 14, 2014 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Centereach
Use your spreadsheet program to help manage your personal finances: learn how to create a check register and format for bank reconciliation, keep track of investments and expenses, and create a simple database.
Kick Your Debt To the Curb (A220)*
Thursday, January 23, 2014 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. – Selden
A certified consumer credit counselor will discuss strategies for getting debt under control, including credit card debt, student loans and collection debt. Our program will explore working with a nonprofit credit counseling agency and credit card companies, some new loan forgiveness programs and ways of dealing with debt collectors.
Are You Saving Enough for Retirement? (A223)*
Thursday, January 30, 2014 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Selden
Retirement! So far off, yet so near. Do you know if you have enough savings to retire? What does it take to ensure a comfortable
retirement? Whether you are 30, 40, 50 or older, the workshop will help you in planning for a better retirement.
What Every Homeowner Should Know (A226)*
Tuesday, February 4, 2014 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. – Centereach
Are you concern about your home and how to keep your mortgage healthy? A home is a wealth building tool, are you building your wealth? Join us for this informative program about everything a homeowner should know!
Would You Like a Financial Coach? (A227)*
Wednesday, February 19, 2014 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Selden
Preparing for college expenses? Need to obtain a car? Looking to buy your first home? Community Development Corporation of Long Island, a HUD approved Housing Counseling agency, will have a Financial Coach available to answer questions about credit and reaching your financial goals.
*All program open to public.
Please let us know in advance if you require any special accommodations due to a disability.
Allstate Supports Readiness Series for The Eighth Consecutive Year
The Allstate Foundation has awarded a $35,000 grant to support the library’s Allstate Readiness Series, a year-long series providing programs on Teen Safe Driving and Financial Empowerment for women, particularly survivors of domestic violence. For more information on this series, visit www.readinessbeginswithme.org or call Lori Abbatepaolo at 585-9393 ext. 295.
Pictured l-r: Sue Bohrer-Braun and Michele Martin, Allstate agents; Allison McMahon, regional division manager, Allstate Foundation and Sara Fade, librarian.
Create at the Maker Fair
Saturday, March 29th From 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. Centereach Building
If you are a kid in grades K-12 who loves to create, invent, learn and explore, join us at the Maker Fair and enjoy projects created by other Middle Country students who participate in Makerspace workshops. Makerspaces are do-it-yourself places where you can gather to share ideas and talents while using a wide variety of materials, tools and technologies. Families are invited to join us to learn about Makerspaces, tinker about, and produce their very own creations. The possibilities are endless! For further information, please contact Kristine Tanzi at 631-585-9393 ext. 230 or tanzikristine@middlecountrypubliclibrary.org.
Ring In The New Year!
Friday, January 10th From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Kick off 2014 with good friends, food and fun! Dance the afternoon away with the New York Exceptions as they play your favorites from the 50s and 60s. The library’s 19th annual Ring in the New Year happens on January 10th, don’t miss it!
Nursery School Fair
SAVE THE DATE:
Saturday, January 18th From 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Centereach Building
Are you considering a nursery school or preschool program for your toddler or tot? Don’t miss the library’s Nursery School Fair. Representatives will be on hand at the Centereach building to answer questions and help you choose the best school for your child.
Calling All Artists!
Are you a teen who loves to be creative? Do you express yourself through art? Submit original sketches, paintings, sculptures, photography, short stories and poetry to be featured in the 5th Annual Teens Create @ MCPL Art Show at the Selden building’s Teen Resource Center.
Artwork will be on display from March 3 to March 31, 2014. Artists and their families will be invited to attend the opening reception on Monday, March 3 in recognition of the many talented participants. Artist guidelines and registration forms, which should be submitted with your artwork between February 7-14, 2014, are available online or at any reference desk. For more information please contact Kristine Tanzi at 631-585-9393 ext. 230 or tanzikristine@ middlecountrypubliclibrary.org.
Patron AnnaNicole Pisani has participated in the Teens Create @ MCPL Art Show for the past four years. We are proud to announce that she was accepted into the Montserrat College of Art in Massachusetts, and started this September.
Explore Zinio
Introducing Zinio, our new digital magazine collection! You will love the convenience of reading your favorites like Rolling Stone, O!, Macworld, Men’s Fitness, Forbes, and Food Network Magazine, and exploring a selection of 50 additional titles available through our eDownload service. Experience the convenience of Zinio – your magazines anytime, anywhere. Simply visit the adult services section of our website and click eDownloads to get started.
Pathways to Career Success
Are you considering a new career path? Would you like to improve your job skills? Looking for alternatives to college? Thinking about becoming an entrepreneur? With support from Bank of America, the Miller Business Center will be offering Pathways to Career Success, a series of workshops geared towards improving job readiness in our region. Programs will cover job search strategies, resume writing, workplace etiquette, business planning and much more. The next series of workshops will be held this spring. One -on-one guidance from Miller staff is available now. For more information please contact Alex Blend at 631-585-9393 ext. 272 or blendalex@middlecountrypubliclibrary.org.
Pictured l-r: Elizabeth Malafi, coordinator, Miller Business Center, Sophia Serlis- McPhillips, library director; Mario Ruggiero, senior vice president and Lorraine Aycock, market development manager, Bank of America
Does this picture look familiar to you?
Middle Country Public Library is looking for your historical, vintage pictures of yesteryear that show how life used to be in the Centereach and Selden area for a local book project.
If you have any photographs of historical Middle Country you would like to contribute, please contact Theresa Arroyo at (631) 585-9393 ext. 294.
Partnership between Middle Country Public Library and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan
EatPlayGrow™ Curriculum
EatPlayGrow™ is a new early childhood health curriculum and the first to be federally approved by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Center for Disease Control (CDC). In partnership with the NIH, Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) adapted the We Can!®obesity prevention program (originally for ages 8-13) to create EatPlayGrow™ for use with children ages 6 and younger and their adult caregivers. This curriculum combines the latest science and research from the NIH with CMOM’s holistic arts and literacy-based approach to engage families and adults who work with young children with creative programs and consistent health messages in informal and formal learning environments.
Bring EatPlayGrow™ to your community!
The curriculum offers a series of 11 healthy lifestyle lessons with hands-on activities, essential facts and simple strategies that make healthy choices fun and easy to include in daily routines—at home, at school or in the community. Each educational lesson is aligned with the appropriate National Pre-K Health Performance Standards and addresses the multiple ways children learn through storytelling, art-making, music and movement activities to teach the importance of making positive choices in the areas that most affect health: nutrition, physical activity and sleep.
Designed for use by families, educators, home-based childcare providers, community organizers, health advocates, librarians and others who work with young children, the EatPlayGrow™ curriculum can be easily adapted into family life and existing programming, or stand alone as its own health unit!
CMOM offers Professional Development trainings at the museum and a special series of webinars with the NIH starting in January 2014. Click here for more information.
Download the EatPlayGrow™ curriculum and start learning now!
CMOM’s National Outreach Dissemination Partners
As part of its EatSleepPlay™ health initiative, CMOM has tested the EatPlayGrow™ curriculum with families and caregivers. By leveraging and connecting CMOM’s relationships with the National Head Start Association, Association of Children’s Museums, and Family Place Libraries–in addition to the NIH’s 1,000 We Can!® community partner sites–and as a Let’s Move! Museum partner, the EatSleepPlay™ initiative will be replicated through existing national networks with tremendous reach at the grassroots level in order to improve health and education services in high-need communities.
The following partners will help CMOM disseminate the EatPlayGrow™ curriculum free of charge throughout the country to their constituent organizations:
Association of Children’s Museums
National Head Start Association
Contact slim@cmom.org to learn how to join the EatPlayGrow™ a dissemination network.
The EatPlayGrow™: curriculum has been developed with the generous support of the Laurie M.Tisch Illumination Fund; the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency; W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Goldman Sachs Gives; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; United Way of New York City; Walmart Foundation; Joan Ganz Cooney Fund at the New York Community Trust; and Amherst Foundation.
Middle Country Team Wins 2012 Battle of the Books
Congratulations to “The Tributes of Middle Country”, who won the 2012 Suffolk County Battle of the Books!
The 2012 Battle of the Books was held on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at Javits Lecture Center, Stony Brook University. The Suffolk County Battle of the Books program is an inter-library competition between teams of teens (students entering grades 6-9 in the fall) focused on 8 young adult novels. The competition is divided into two back-to-back 4-hour Regional Competitions and an Awards Night. At the Regional Competition, each team gets to participate in 4 separate rounds. Each round covers 2 of the 8 books and each team is given 20 questions per round. Titles to be covered in each round are announced in advance but not specifically mentioned in the questions. At the Awards Night, the top 2 scoring teams from each region competed for the County Championship.
Congratulations to all who participated in this year’s Battle of the Books. Special thanks to our coaches, teens, parents, and all volunteers who helped to make this year’s Battle of the Books a success.
Career Counseling
Need help writing your resume?
Thinking of starting a new career?
Want to ace your next interview?
Make an appointment with one of our career counselors. Available for district residents ages 14 and up, career counselors provide confidential appointments for employment, occupational and college counseling. Appointments are available at various times in both buildings.
For further information or to make an appointment, please call the Miller Business Resource Center Desk at 631-585-9393 ext. 133.
Customer Service Modernization Project
Faster and More Convenient Service!
Come in and see our upgraded customer service areas – the result of our Customer Service Modernization Project. Try our touch-screen self-check and automated return stations for speedier checkout and a more effective return process; check out multiple items simultaneously; tap the kiosk screen to print a receipt for your borrowed items; use the 24/7 drive up return station in Centereach. Staff members will always be available to help you navigate the system and expedite your transaction.
This cost-saving, state-of-the-art system has been implemented at libraries across the country, and has received enthusiastic response from patrons who appreciate the fast, efficient service. Staff members are freed from routine tasks and can assume more interesting and challenging roles – working with library programs and providing notary, fax, computer and online services. Clearly a win-win situation, we are sure you will appreciate the upgraded service.
Question/Answer Fact Sheets are available at the library or on our website at www.mcpl.lib.ny.us. For further information, please contact Sophia Serlis-McPhillips at 631-585-9393 ext. 219 or serlismc@mcpl.lib.ny.us.
Help for the Hearing Impaired
Hearing Loop now available in Centereach
The library is pleased to announce the availability of a Hearing Loop system in the Community Room in the Centereach building. The hearing loop transmits sound through an installed wire that “loops” around a portion of the room allowing patrons with hearing aids to pick up the signal. The signal is directed to a part of a hearing aid called a T-Coil enabling the loop to eliminate distracting background noise and reverberation. The Loop will be available during any program in which an audiovisual component system is used, including film, musical performances, and speaking engagements. The system’s installation was made possible by a generous donation from the Foundation for Sight & Sound. For further information, please contact Sal DiVincenzo at 631-585-9393 ext. 216.
Motorola Solution Foundation Awards $20,000 to support Math Buddies
Motorola Solution Foundation Awards $20,000 to support the Jumpstart Science Initiative: Math Buddies, an innovative program that pairs teens with children in Kindergarten through 2nd grade. The goal of the program is to incorporate the ideals of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiative into the learning process. Prior to serving as a Math Buddy, teens participate in training sessions to learn math and mentoring skills and strategies, and to integrate technology into the learning experience.
During the sessions, teens mentor their buddies in math concepts, play web-based math games, use iPads with interactive math applications and read aloud to their partners. Each session of the Math Buddies program focuses on a specific topic, such as money, addition and subtraction, data and graphs, patterns, time and measurement.
These programs will highlight the fantastic history, recreation & geography of Long Island
Hiking Long Island (A249)
Monday, May 12, 2014 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Selden
Nothing is better than a trek through the great outdoors. Naturalist and author, Lee McAllister, will discuss hiking on Long Island including the geology, history, flora, fauna and topographical features that make Long Island an interesting place to hike in any season.
Eggs, Nests and Baby Birds (A285)
Tuesday, May 13, 2014 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Selden
Spring and summer are busy times for birds. Learn about the exhausting work of parenting birds and the different life history strategies of some of our favorite avain friends. Join Educator Sue Krause and find out what birds may be building nests in your neighborhood.
Local Agriculture: Past, Present and Future (A355)
Friday, June 6, 2014 7:00 – 8:45 p.m. – Centereach
Join food and nutrition educator Timothy Williams as he leads us on a journey of Long Island’s rich agricultural history, from its origins to the latest trends in farming. He’ll highlight sustainable and organic farming methods and farms, as well as operating farmer’s markets, and Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs in our area. Find the value of locally-grown and raised food, and discover some amazing facts about the history of Long Island agriulture.
World of Wine (A336)
Monday, June 9, 2014 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Selden
Thinking of taking tours of the Long Island wineries this summer? Learn more about the history of wine, types of wine, health benefits and how to successfully pair the right wine with your meals. We will also learn more about local wineries.
Visit to Hobbs Farm (A226)
Thursday, May 8, 2014 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Hobbs Farm, Centereach
At this hands-on program at Hobbs Farm, you will learn general garden techniques and farm chores that will make a bountiful harvest this season. All experience levels welcome. Participation is recommended but not mandatory.
Long Island Reads – Book Discussion: The Manor (A247)
Thursday, April 17, 2014 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. – Centereach
Join us for a lively book discussion. Bring your thoughts and a friend. We’ll be reading novels, non-fiction and some mysteries! April17 – Long Island Reads, THE MANOR, by Mac Griswold.
LI Reads Documentary – The Sugar Connection (A323)
Thursday, April 24, 2014 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Centereach
This film documents the eight-year archaeological dig at Sylvester Manor. It reveals the Dutch influence on Long Island in the 17th century, along with the importance of the trade networks established with sugar plantations on Barbados. Filmmaker Dr. Gaynell Stone, also director of the Suffolk County Archaeological Association, will introduce the film and answer any questions.
LI Reads – Sylvester Manor (A363)
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 9:00 am – 5:00 p.m.
Sylvester Manor, covering 243 acres on Shelter Island, has been held in the same family for eleven generations. It captures the history of Long Island as well as our nation in all its richness and suffering. The book, THE MANOR, by Mac Griswold, which tells its story is the 2014 Long Island Reads award winner. We will take the ferry from Greenport to visit Sylvester Manor, where we will be touring the house, the grounds and visit their farm stand. After our ferry ride back to Greenport, we will stay awhile in town for some shopping and lunch on your own.
Please let us know in advance if you require any special accommodations due to a disability.
Lisa’s Bio
Return to Annual Message and Budget Information.
Annual Message and Budget Information
From the Board of Trustees
We are proud to announce that for the sixth year in a row the library has received a Five Star rating from Library Journal. The recognition takes into account patron visits, circulation of materials, program offerings and internet public use. Our borrowers checked out nearly 1,100,000 items; 77,000 patrons of all ages attended programs; more than 750 community group meetings were held; and more than 510,000 visitors passed through our doors. 2013 was another busy year for the library!
We’ve embraced the world of technology while continuing to be the community’s hub and your neighborhood library. Regardless of age, stage in life, special interests or enthusiasms, we have something for you. Need a good book or DVD? Are you considering a new career path? Do you need assistance with your mobile device or library online resource? Would you like to attend a musical performance? Are you wondering how you can help your child succeed in school? The Library is here for you.
As part of our annual message, we provide a summary of next year’s budget. The proposed 2014/2015 budget reflects an increase of 1.7%, which is below the tax cap limitation.
Our goal is to continue to provide exemplary service, programs, and resources and remain a steady local employer. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm.
Click here to view the 2014-2015 budget information.
Click here to view the Trustee Election information.
Library Budget Vote & Trustee Election
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
at the Centereach Building
101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach, NY 11720
In order to vote you must be:
- A citizen of the United States
- 18 years of age or older
- Registered to vote*
- A resident of Middle Country School District #11 for at least 30 days prior ot the vote
* You are registered if you have voted in a general, school, or library election within the last four years. If you have not, you may register on Tuesday, April 1st between 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Centereach Building.
Absentee ballot applications are available at the Customer Service Desk.
Are You Money Wise?
ID Theft (A221)*
Friday, January 10, 2014 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Selden
If you or someone you know has ever been a victim of identity theft, you know how time consuming, costly and painful it can be. At the Identity Theft workshop, you’ll learn what identity theft is, how thieves get and use your personal information, how to protect yourself and what to do if you are a victim.
Using Your Computer for Your Home Finances (A222)*
Tuesday, January 14, 2014 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Centereach
Use your spreadsheet program to help manage your personal finances: learn how to create a check register and format for bank reconciliation, keep track of investments and expenses, and create a simple database.
Kick Your Debt To the Curb (A220)*
Thursday, January 23, 2014 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. – Selden
A certified consumer credit counselor will discuss strategies for getting debt under control, including credit card debt, student loans and collection debt. Our program will explore working with a nonprofit credit counseling agency and credit card companies, some new loan forgiveness programs and ways of dealing with debt collectors.
Are You Saving Enough for Retirement? (A223)*
Thursday, January 30, 2014 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Selden
Retirement! So far off, yet so near. Do you know if you have enough savings to retire? What does it take to ensure a comfortable
retirement? Whether you are 30, 40, 50 or older, the workshop will help you in planning for a better retirement.
What Every Homeowner Should Know (A226)*
Tuesday, February 4, 2014 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. – Centereach
Are you concern about your home and how to keep your mortgage healthy? A home is a wealth building tool, are you building your wealth? Join us for this informative program about everything a homeowner should know!
Would You Like a Financial Coach? (A227)*
Wednesday, February 19, 2014 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Selden
Preparing for college expenses? Need to obtain a car? Looking to buy your first home? Community Development Corporation of Long Island, a HUD approved Housing Counseling agency, will have a Financial Coach available to answer questions about credit and reaching your financial goals.
*All program open to public.
Please let us know in advance if you require any special accommodations due to a disability.
The Allstate Foundation has awarded a $35,000 grant to support the library’s Allstate Readiness Series, a year-long series providing programs on Teen Safe Driving and Financial Empowerment for women, particularly survivors of domestic violence. For more information on this series, visit www.readinessbeginswithme.org or call Lori Abbatepaolo at 585-9393 ext. 295.
Pictured l-r: Sue Bohrer-Braun and Michele Martin, Allstate agents; Allison McMahon, regional division manager, Allstate Foundation and Sara Fade, librarian.
Saturday, March 29th From 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. Centereach Building
If you are a kid in grades K-12 who loves to create, invent, learn and explore, join us at the Maker Fair and enjoy projects created by other Middle Country students who participate in Makerspace workshops. Makerspaces are do-it-yourself places where you can gather to share ideas and talents while using a wide variety of materials, tools and technologies. Families are invited to join us to learn about Makerspaces, tinker about, and produce their very own creations. The possibilities are endless! For further information, please contact Kristine Tanzi at 631-585-9393 ext. 230 or tanzikristine@middlecountrypubliclibrary.org.
Friday, January 10th From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Kick off 2014 with good friends, food and fun! Dance the afternoon away with the New York Exceptions as they play your favorites from the 50s and 60s. The library’s 19th annual Ring in the New Year happens on January 10th, don’t miss it!
SAVE THE DATE:
Saturday, January 18th From 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Centereach Building
Are you considering a nursery school or preschool program for your toddler or tot? Don’t miss the library’s Nursery School Fair. Representatives will be on hand at the Centereach building to answer questions and help you choose the best school for your child.
Are you a teen who loves to be creative? Do you express yourself through art? Submit original sketches, paintings, sculptures, photography, short stories and poetry to be featured in the 5th Annual Teens Create @ MCPL Art Show at the Selden building’s Teen Resource Center.
Artwork will be on display from March 3 to March 31, 2014. Artists and their families will be invited to attend the opening reception on Monday, March 3 in recognition of the many talented participants. Artist guidelines and registration forms, which should be submitted with your artwork between February 7-14, 2014, are available online or at any reference desk. For more information please contact Kristine Tanzi at 631-585-9393 ext. 230 or tanzikristine@ middlecountrypubliclibrary.org.
Patron AnnaNicole Pisani has participated in the Teens Create @ MCPL Art Show for the past four years. We are proud to announce that she was accepted into the Montserrat College of Art in Massachusetts, and started this September.
Introducing Zinio, our new digital magazine collection! You will love the convenience of reading your favorites like Rolling Stone, O!, Macworld, Men’s Fitness, Forbes, and Food Network Magazine, and exploring a selection of 50 additional titles available through our eDownload service. Experience the convenience of Zinio – your magazines anytime, anywhere. Simply visit the adult services section of our website and click eDownloads to get started.
Are you considering a new career path? Would you like to improve your job skills? Looking for alternatives to college? Thinking about becoming an entrepreneur? With support from Bank of America, the Miller Business Center will be offering Pathways to Career Success, a series of workshops geared towards improving job readiness in our region. Programs will cover job search strategies, resume writing, workplace etiquette, business planning and much more. The next series of workshops will be held this spring. One -on-one guidance from Miller staff is available now. For more information please contact Alex Blend at 631-585-9393 ext. 272 or blendalex@middlecountrypubliclibrary.org.
Pictured l-r: Elizabeth Malafi, coordinator, Miller Business Center, Sophia Serlis- McPhillips, library director; Mario Ruggiero, senior vice president and Lorraine Aycock, market development manager, Bank of America
Middle Country Public Library is looking for your historical, vintage pictures of yesteryear that show how life used to be in the Centereach and Selden area for a local book project.
If you have any photographs of historical Middle Country you would like to contribute, please contact Theresa Arroyo at (631) 585-9393 ext. 294.
EatPlayGrow™ Curriculum
EatPlayGrow™ is a new early childhood health curriculum and the first to be federally approved by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Center for Disease Control (CDC). In partnership with the NIH, Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) adapted the We Can!®obesity prevention program (originally for ages 8-13) to create EatPlayGrow™ for use with children ages 6 and younger and their adult caregivers. This curriculum combines the latest science and research from the NIH with CMOM’s holistic arts and literacy-based approach to engage families and adults who work with young children with creative programs and consistent health messages in informal and formal learning environments.
Bring EatPlayGrow™ to your community!
The curriculum offers a series of 11 healthy lifestyle lessons with hands-on activities, essential facts and simple strategies that make healthy choices fun and easy to include in daily routines—at home, at school or in the community. Each educational lesson is aligned with the appropriate National Pre-K Health Performance Standards and addresses the multiple ways children learn through storytelling, art-making, music and movement activities to teach the importance of making positive choices in the areas that most affect health: nutrition, physical activity and sleep.
Designed for use by families, educators, home-based childcare providers, community organizers, health advocates, librarians and others who work with young children, the EatPlayGrow™ curriculum can be easily adapted into family life and existing programming, or stand alone as its own health unit!
CMOM offers Professional Development trainings at the museum and a special series of webinars with the NIH starting in January 2014. Click here for more information.
Download the EatPlayGrow™ curriculum and start learning now!
CMOM’s National Outreach Dissemination Partners
As part of its EatSleepPlay™ health initiative, CMOM has tested the EatPlayGrow™ curriculum with families and caregivers. By leveraging and connecting CMOM’s relationships with the National Head Start Association, Association of Children’s Museums, and Family Place Libraries–in addition to the NIH’s 1,000 We Can!® community partner sites–and as a Let’s Move! Museum partner, the EatSleepPlay™ initiative will be replicated through existing national networks with tremendous reach at the grassroots level in order to improve health and education services in high-need communities.
The following partners will help CMOM disseminate the EatPlayGrow™ curriculum free of charge throughout the country to their constituent organizations:
Association of Children’s Museums
National Head Start Association
Contact slim@cmom.org to learn how to join the EatPlayGrow™ a dissemination network.
The EatPlayGrow™: curriculum has been developed with the generous support of the Laurie M.Tisch Illumination Fund; the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency; W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Goldman Sachs Gives; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; United Way of New York City; Walmart Foundation; Joan Ganz Cooney Fund at the New York Community Trust; and Amherst Foundation.
Congratulations to “The Tributes of Middle Country”, who won the 2012 Suffolk County Battle of the Books!
The 2012 Battle of the Books was held on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at Javits Lecture Center, Stony Brook University. The Suffolk County Battle of the Books program is an inter-library competition between teams of teens (students entering grades 6-9 in the fall) focused on 8 young adult novels. The competition is divided into two back-to-back 4-hour Regional Competitions and an Awards Night. At the Regional Competition, each team gets to participate in 4 separate rounds. Each round covers 2 of the 8 books and each team is given 20 questions per round. Titles to be covered in each round are announced in advance but not specifically mentioned in the questions. At the Awards Night, the top 2 scoring teams from each region competed for the County Championship.
Congratulations to all who participated in this year’s Battle of the Books. Special thanks to our coaches, teens, parents, and all volunteers who helped to make this year’s Battle of the Books a success.
Need help writing your resume?
Thinking of starting a new career?
Want to ace your next interview?
Make an appointment with one of our career counselors. Available for district residents ages 14 and up, career counselors provide confidential appointments for employment, occupational and college counseling. Appointments are available at various times in both buildings.
For further information or to make an appointment, please call the Miller Business Resource Center Desk at 631-585-9393 ext. 133.
Faster and More Convenient Service!
Come in and see our upgraded customer service areas – the result of our Customer Service Modernization Project. Try our touch-screen self-check and automated return stations for speedier checkout and a more effective return process; check out multiple items simultaneously; tap the kiosk screen to print a receipt for your borrowed items; use the 24/7 drive up return station in Centereach. Staff members will always be available to help you navigate the system and expedite your transaction.
This cost-saving, state-of-the-art system has been implemented at libraries across the country, and has received enthusiastic response from patrons who appreciate the fast, efficient service. Staff members are freed from routine tasks and can assume more interesting and challenging roles – working with library programs and providing notary, fax, computer and online services. Clearly a win-win situation, we are sure you will appreciate the upgraded service.
Question/Answer Fact Sheets are available at the library or on our website at www.mcpl.lib.ny.us. For further information, please contact Sophia Serlis-McPhillips at 631-585-9393 ext. 219 or serlismc@mcpl.lib.ny.us.
Hearing Loop now available in Centereach
The library is pleased to announce the availability of a Hearing Loop system in the Community Room in the Centereach building. The hearing loop transmits sound through an installed wire that “loops” around a portion of the room allowing patrons with hearing aids to pick up the signal. The signal is directed to a part of a hearing aid called a T-Coil enabling the loop to eliminate distracting background noise and reverberation. The Loop will be available during any program in which an audiovisual component system is used, including film, musical performances, and speaking engagements. The system’s installation was made possible by a generous donation from the Foundation for Sight & Sound. For further information, please contact Sal DiVincenzo at 631-585-9393 ext. 216.
Motorola Solution Foundation Awards $20,000 to support the Jumpstart Science Initiative: Math Buddies, an innovative program that pairs teens with children in Kindergarten through 2nd grade. The goal of the program is to incorporate the ideals of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiative into the learning process. Prior to serving as a Math Buddy, teens participate in training sessions to learn math and mentoring skills and strategies, and to integrate technology into the learning experience.
During the sessions, teens mentor their buddies in math concepts, play web-based math games, use iPads with interactive math applications and read aloud to their partners. Each session of the Math Buddies program focuses on a specific topic, such as money, addition and subtraction, data and graphs, patterns, time and measurement.
