Library services to temporarily relocate starting June 6

The Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library announced today that starting Monday, June 6, main library services will be temporarily relocated to the Mastic Recreation Center at 15 Herkimer Street. The move is necessitated because of construction delays at the satellite branches and the need to keep the renovation of the main library, located at 407 William Floyd Parkway in Shirley, on schedule and within budget.

“We are grateful to the Town of Brookhaven for allowing us to operate from the facility at no cost, and to provide core library services from the building while we complete construction of two brand-new satellite branches in Mastic Beach and Moriches,” said library director Kerri Rosalia. “This move is fiscally responsible and will allow us to keep the main library renovation on-track.”

Rosalia added that the library administration and trustees extend a special thanks to Brookhaven Town supervisor Ed Romaine, deputy town supervisor Dan Panico, and parks commissioner Ed Morris for helping to facilitate this arrangement.

Originally scheduled to be completed by the first quarter of 2022, the Mastic Beach and Moriches satellite branches have been plagued by permitting delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as building supply shortages. Based on current estimates, the Mastic Beach facility will be completed by October and the Moriches facility by December. Core library services will be moved to the new branches once construction is complete and will continue at those facilities while the main library undergoes a complete 18-month-long renovation.

“We have been working to expedite this project wherever possible,” said Chris Barletta, operations manager of Sandpebble Builders Inc., the construction manager for the project. “But COVID-19 delays and international supply chain issues are well outside of our control.” Barletta added that because of building supply price escalations combined with the contractual rise in construction labor costs, every additional month that the main library stays open will cost taxpayers at least $50,000. “We need to make this move now to stay within the allotted budget approved by taxpayers in 2019.”

Core library services offered at the 6,625-square-foot Mastic Recreation Center will include computers, internet access, reference, book and media lending, and a myriad of indoor programs. This will include special programs for older adults that will coincide with the reestablishment of the town’s Senior Nutrition Program at the Herkimer Street facility. Plans are to combine special library programs for seniors with the mealtime scheduled on site.

In addition, a robust schedule of library programs for residents of all ages will be offered throughout the community at parks, beaches, and other outdoor locations, as has been offered in past summers. Other indoor and outdoor programming will be offered at the Knights of Columbus located at 176 Madison Street in Mastic. The library will also continue to offer remote, online virtual programs and services.

“Community residents have come to expect a wide range of educational and informational services and programs from our library, and we intend on continuing to deliver on that promise,” commented library board president Joseph Maiorana. “In the coming weeks, complete information and program schedules will be mailed to residents as well as posted to our website and Facebook page.”

Rosalia added that a “perfect storm” of extraordinary and unexpected circumstances, combined with a time-consuming and exhaustive search for no-cost, temporary operating space, left little time for the library to communicate its revised plans to the community. “While this move may cause some temporary disruption and inconvenience, we ask the community to take the long view with patience and understanding, as we build a better library system for the future of all our residents.”

In addition, since libraries in Suffolk County have a strong cooperative agreement that allows direct access to materials and some services, residents can utilize any nearby library during this transition period.

The main library will close Friday, June 3 at 6 p.m. and will reopen on Monday, June 6, at its temporary location at the Mastic Recreation Center. It will be open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Through mailings and digital media, the community will be kept informed of the progress being made at the satellite branches during this three- to five-month transition period where the library will be headquartered at the Herkimer Street facility.

For up-to-date information, visit the library’s website at www.communitylibrary.org or go to their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MMSCL.