Library

Holiday Closings

The library is closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve (open 9:00 am to 1:00 pm) and Christmas Day

Resources

The library, besides housing over 26,000 books, DVD, CDs, and other material, offers children’s and adult programs. Story hours are held at the children’s library, and a book discussion group meets at the adult library. Membership is free to Sea Cliff residents.

History

Sea Cliff has one of the 11 oldest public libraries in Nassau County, having been founded by the all-male Sea Cliff Improvement Association in 1894. In 1899, the library charter was turned over to the Sea Cliff School District. The library then offered books, German lessons, drawing classes, and for the men, dominoes and smoking. Generous residents also contributed money to keep the library viable. In 1914, Mrs. Mary L. Stenson purchased land and built a library to honor her husband, Samuel. On May 12, 1915, Stenson Memorial Library, now the Children’s Library, formerly opened to the public. The library charter of 1927 established Stenson Memorial Library as a Village administered library. In 1980, the charter of 1927 was amended to formally change the library’s corporate name to the Sea Cliff Village Library. By the early 1960s, the press for space was acute. In 1968, the Sea Cliff Methodist Church donated its former church and parsonage to the Village. In 1970, the adult library and museum moved into the newly renovated community center. The children’s section remains in the Stenson Building. The first tax support came from the Board of Trustees in 1990.