Founded by the original Library Committee of Mr. Harry Herman, President, Judge Verne Furman, Vice President, Mrs. Joseph Leibold, Secretary, Mr. Walter Kowalczyk,.Treasurer, and Mr. Kenneth Rhodes. The building at 81 Carleton Avenue was dedicated on October 24, 1952. Seventy-three residents signed the G·uest Register. The book collection consisted of approximately 750 volumes, and was the first public library in Central Islip. The first month's circulation was 1000 books. Mrs. Mercia Frailey was named as the first Librarian.
Mr. William Vogt succeeded Judge Furman as Library Trustee.
Mrs. Dorothy Wagner was named Trustee upon the resignation of Mrs. Leibold, and Mr. Thomas Purtell replaced Mr. Vogt after his resignation. Mr. Purtell served until his death in 1969.
Mr. Henry Hocker was named Trustee upon the death of Thomas Purtell, and was reelected to a full term as Trustee in 1975.
Mrs. Elizabeth Gordon was appointed Library Director.
As new building plans were underway, and the Carleton Avenue library had become overcrowded with a book collection of 28,000 volumes, the community was saddened by the sudden death of Mr. Harry Herman, President of the Board, and Chairman of the founding Library Committee. His widow, Mrs. Harry Herman, was appointed his successor.
Mr. Carl B. Stoye was appointed architect to design the new building, and a Board decision was made on the building site.
The voters of the Central Islip Union Free School District approved a bond issue of $1,282,000.00 for purchase f the site and construction of a new library building.
Bids were opened and awarded. Contracts were signed by Mr. Maurice J. O'Connell, then President of the Board of Education, and Mr. Kenneth Rhodes, President of the Board of Trustees. • Construction began, and a ground-breaking ceremony was held in November.
On March 15, the new building, with a capacity of 100,000 books, microfilms and recordings was opened to the public. Between that day and March 31, circulation was over 7000, and 950 new borrowers registered with the library. May 2, 1976, the new building was dedicated. The cornerstone was put in place. Memorabilia included the recent book by Sister Anne Frances Pulling, Central Islip: My Home Town, and the earlier work by Verne Dyson, A History of Central Islip, published in 1954. We were all saddened, however, by the sudden death of Mr. Walter Kowalczyk on March 29. He had been one of the original members of the Library Committee, and had been an active member of the Board during construction of the new building. We are thankful he lived to see his dreams bear fruit. It is our deepest regret that Harry Herman did not live to see the results of his dedication.