Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library

The Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library (MMSCL) was chartered in 1974 by the NYS Education Department as the public library to serve the towns of Mastic, Mastic Beach, Shirley and Moriches. It is located centrally (one facility) in Shirley, 65 miles east of New York City on Long Island’s South Shore. Our mission is to serve the information, education, recreational and lifelong learning needs of our community. Over the past 39 years the library has grown from a small storefront serving a population of 26,629 to a standalone facility serving approximately 56,000 residents through the work of over 200 staff members. A unique outreach initiative brings library service and programs to over 7 community locations using a Library Van, the only public library in Suffolk County to do so. One of the five largest out of of 54 public libraries in the county, the Library’s annual circulation exceeds 500,000 items per year. MMSCL is positioned as a leader in innovative library service, having received star ratings in Library Journal’s national rating of libraries since 2010. Unique to MMSCL is a track record of successfully adapting high technology for direct patron use, in effect “introducing” it to the community in a hugely popular technology lending program which lets users borrow children’s Leap pad titles, ipods, GPS units, digital cameras, E-readers, playaway audio and mp3 players with their library card. On site, a laptop pool enables wireless Internet throughout the building. Located in a shopping center, the Library is a community destination due to its location on two public bus routes and within 1 mile walking distance of 4 district schools and a Head Start center, 150 local civic groups used the library’s meeting rooms over 300 times in 2011. Library service goes beyond the traditional materials centered program to offer self-help and integrated social services such as an on-site career counsellor, social worker, guidance counsellor, individual technology instruction with computers and devices, and a parent-child home outreach service. The library’s extensive ESL class schedule include 13 classes per week on site, all with childcare, and 19 classes off-site weekly at the local high school, 2 with childcare. Funded primarily through local property tax assessment, programming is enhanced through private fundraising efforts and grants.