The state, county, and town, with the help of the Suffolk County Police Department, came together in a joint effort to try to help keep the Mastic Beach Library branch, located on Neighborhood Road, open after concerns of drugs, crime and vandalism.
Last Thursday, Nov. 5, Suffolk County police commissioner Kevin Catalina joined county executive Ed Romaine with state, county and town officials to announce new security measures at the Mastic Shirley Library Annex.
The measures, according to the SCPD, are intended to address safety concerns and keep the branch open, including a trailer across from the library to serve as a temporary substation, providing an additional police presence in the area.
“The county was able to quickly secure us a trailer to put on this property. In my experience, that omnipresence makes a big difference,” said Catalina. “I really do think that sends a message to the community the SCPD is here.”
According to the SCPD, the Seventh Precinct is increasing high-visibility patrols along Neighborhood Road, combining enforcement with direct engagement with residents, library visitors, and local merchants.
“Officers will take a zero-tolerance approach to quality-of-life offenses,” SCPD officials said. “In addition to conducting more Park, Walk and Talks, Anti-Crime officers will also be deployed to address drug offenses.”
Additionally, the department has established a foot patrol initiative along Neighborhood Road during the 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. tour.
“We are committed to keeping our communities safe,” Romaine said during the press conference.
Brookhaven Town supervisor Dan Panico agreed, noting they, too, will work with the community to make sure the branch stays safe and open.
Last month, the library trustees voted to close the library traditionally due to safety concerns. The library released a plan for reducing hours in October and closing by the end of December to transition to a literacy and citizenship model by the new year.
“We are not abandoning Mastic Beach; we are changing how we use this building so we can continue serving the community in a safer, more effective way,” library officials said.
In October, the SCPD reported a total of 45 calls for service year to date to the Mastic Shirley Library.
Sixteen calls were for disturbances, 11 calls were for alarms, four calls were for criminal incidents, two calls were for larceny offenses, one call was for someone who graffitied property, and there was one call for a domestic violence incident.
“We welcome Suffolk County executive Ed Romaine’s announcement of a new police substation across from our Mastic Beach branch, along with increased police patrols and other measures intended to improve safety along Neighborhood Road. These are positive developments for the entire Mastic Beach community, and we hope they will lead to meaningful, lasting improvements,” said Joseph Maiorana, president of the library’s board of trustees.
When the branch first opened in 2023, he said, they envisioned it as an anchor for the revitalization of Neighborhood Road.
“We believed then, as we do today, that a strong public library can play an important role in strengthening a community,” he added. “Unfortunately, the safety and quality-of-life challenges facing this area did not begin with the library’s opening, nor have they been resolved in the years since. Despite substantial investments in security, cooperation with law enforcement, and partnerships with social service organizations, serious concerns have persisted.”
The Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library board still confirmed their plan to continue the adopted transition plan.
Revised branch hours will now be Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday hours remain from noon to 4 p.m., effective Oct. 21, 2026, in response to ongoing safety and security concerns as daylight hours shorten, as well as Dec. 23 as the final day of operations under the current service model; closure of the building effective Dec. 24, 2026; and reopening on March 1, 2027 as a location for library programs.
However, residents will now still be able to borrow and return library materials at Mastic Beach, even during the temporary closure from Dec. 24 through Feb. 28. The exterior pickup lockers, which provide 24-hour access to requested books, media, and other materials, will remain operational, as will the outdoor book return.
Also, when the building reopens on March 1, it will offer a variety of library programs, including literacy and citizenship classes, technology instruction, and in-person homework assistance. While access to the building will be controlled, same-day registration will be accommodated when space is available.
“The recently announced police substation is a welcome development, but the library believes improvements in neighborhood safety need to be demonstrated and sustained over time,” the board released in a statement. “Those ongoing assessments will help the board determine whether circumstances warrant reconsidering the building’s operating model.”
No specific date has been established for such a decision.
“It’s also important to emphasize that the physical changes planned for Mastic Beach will be relatively minor and reversible,” the statement continues. “They will consist primarily of movable partitions and other adjustments to accommodate classes and programs. The building can be reconfigured for traditional lending services in the future without major structural renovations.”
UNDER THE NEW MODEL
1. Library Services Available at Mastic Beach Beginning March 1, 2027
The Mastic Beach branch will continue offering a wide variety of Library programs and services for residents of all ages. These will include adult literacy and citizenship classes, technology instruction, educational workshops, homework help, and other programs and activities for children and adults.
Importantly, residents will still be able to borrow and return Library materials at Mastic Beach. The exterior lockers, which provide 24-hour access to books, media, and other materials requested through the library, will remain in place and operational. The outdoor book return will also remain available.
Computers will continue to be available for adults and children participating in technology classes and other educational programs. In-person homework assistance will also be offered.
What will change is unrestricted walk-in access to the building. Patrons will no longer be able to browse shelves, use the building as a general reading or study space, or access public computers outside scheduled activities.
However, the registration requirement is not intended to prevent someone from participating simply because they haven’t signed up in advance. If a patron arrives for a program and space is available, staff will accommodate same-day registration, subject to the usual check-in procedures. The same flexibility will apply to students seeking homework assistance.
The objective is to maintain a welcoming educational environment while giving staff and security personnel greater control over access to the building.
2. Accessing Library Services During the Temporary Closure and After Reopening
During the temporary closure, Dec. 24 through Feb. 28, and after the March 1 reopening, traditional Library services will continue to be available at the Main Library in Shirley and the Moriches Branch. Residents will also have access to the library’s extensive online resources, digital materials, and homebound delivery program.
The exterior pickup lockers and book return at Mastic Beach will remain operational throughout the temporary closure and after the facility reopens. Residents will therefore continue to have a convenient way to pick up requested materials and return borrowed items at that location, even while the building itself is closed.
It’s worth remembering that the library’s three locations have always offered somewhat different facilities and services. For example, the Main Library in Shirley houses the auditorium and artist exhibition areas, while Moriches has outdoor recreational space. Patrons have always traveled between locations depending on the particular services or activities they wish to use.
Under the new arrangement, Mastic Beach will have an expanded focus on scheduled educational programming, while residents will continue to have access to the full range of Library services throughout the district.
