Comsewogue Public Library
170 Terryville Road
Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776
Telephone
Voice: (631) 928-1212
Fax: (631) 928-6307
Email
Adult Services: aref@cplib.org
Children’s and Teen’s Services: jref@cplib.org
Comsewogue Administration: administration@cplib.org
Technical Support: tech@cplib.org
Circulation (questions about overdue materials, library cards, etc.): circ@cplib.org
Ask A Librarian
Ask Adult Services
Ask Children’s and Teen’s Services
Library Hours
Monday: 9:30 am – 9:00 pm
Tuesday: 9:30 am – 9:00 pm
Wednesday: 9:30 am – 9:00 pm
Thursday: 9:30 am – 9:00 pm
Friday: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm (Oct. 6, 2024 to May 18, 2025)
Holiday Closings
Wednesday, January 1, New Year’s Day
Monday, January 20, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Monday, February 17, Presidents’ Day
Sunday, April 20, Easter
Sunday, May 11, Mother’s Day
Monday, May 26, Memorial Day
Thursday, June 19, Juneteenth
Friday, July 4, Independence Day
Monday, September 1, Labor Day
Monday, October 13, Columbus Day
Tuesday, November 11, Veterans Day
Wednesday, November 26, Thanksgiving Eve (5 PM closing)
Thursday, November 27, Thanksgiving
Wednesday, December 24, Christmas Eve
Thursday, December 25, Christmas Day
Wednesday, December 31, New Year’s Eve (1 PM closing)
Directions to the Library
The Comsewogue Public Library is located approximately one mile south of Port Jefferson Harbor, at 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776.
Library Director: Debra L. Engelhardt – (631) 928-1212, ext. 112 – debbie@cplib.org
Assistant Library Director: Andrea Malchiodi – (631) 928-1212, ext. 122 – amalchiodi@cplib.org
- A senior management team, comprised of specialists in a variety of areas, including Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Technical Services, Circulation Services, Adult Services and Youth Services, provide expertise in their respective fields.
Board of Trustees
The Comsewogue Public Library Board of Trustees meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:00 pm. Please call the Administrative Office at (631) 928-1212, ext. 112 to verify.
President: John Rossini
Vice President: Kevin Spence
Secretary: Lisa Olson
Fiscal Officer: Corinne DeStefano
Trustee: Christopher McCrary
View Trustee Biographies
- Contact Library Director Debra L. Engelhardt at (631) 928-1212, ext. 112 or debbie@cplib.org for information on trustee recruitment/candidacy/election and/or see linked documents below.
- Correspondence for the Board of Trustees may be addressed to: John Rossini, President, Board of Trustees, Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776 or administration@cplib.org.
- In accordance with NYS Law, the Library contracts for the services of an outside treasurer and also engages an independent auditor to perform an annual financial audit.
Primary Resources
Trustee Duties and Responsibilities
Statement on the Governance Role of a Trustee or Board Member
Comsewogue Public Library Documents
By Laws
Code of Ethics
How to Become a Library Board Trustee
Trustee Education Policy
Trustee Recruitment Statement
Meeting Agendas & Board Documents
Meeting Minutes
The meaning behind our library slogan comes from a loose translation of the Native American word “Cumsewogue,” which is said to be “the place where many paths meet.”
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1966 | Library (District) created by Comsewogue School District voters |
| March 1, 1967 | Library, operating from a portable classroom on the property of the former Comsewogue Elementary School, opens its doors to community residents |
| November 1967 | Library District voters approve construction of permanent library building |
| September 26, 1969 | Library chartered by New York State Board of Regents/New York State Education Department |
| November 1969 | Permanent library building construction completed |
| November 22, 1993 | Library District residents vote to approve a construction project to renovate and expand the Library to over 44,000 square feet. Project funded with a 30-year bond financed through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York. |
| 1999 | Expansion completed |
| 2002 | Richard Lusak, the Library’s Founding Director, retires |
| 2012 | Brandon Pantorno, Mr. Lusak’s successor, retires |
Application for part-time employment
Employee Recruitment Statement
Open Positions
Sustainability Initiatives
The Comsewogue Public Library Board and staff are committed to reducing the Library’s impact on the environment, modeling green practices for our community, and committing to continuous improvement.
Plastic Bag & Film Recycling
Will you take the NexTrex Recycling Challenge with us… again? In an effort to reduce the amount of plastic going into our landfills we’re collecting plastic bags and film from January – December 2025. Drop off your recyclables in the NexTrex recycling container in our lobby. If we collect 1,000 pounds we can win a Trex bench made from recycled plastic!
When in doubt throw it out. All plastic must be completely clean, dry, and eligible for recycling by NexTrex. Dirty or non-recyclable items will contaminate everything in the container.
Please Recycle:
- Bags with recycling numbers 2 and 4
- Grocery bags
- Produce bags
- Ice bags
- Cereal box liners
- Bread bags
- Plastic shipping bags
- Bubble wrap and air pillows
- Ziploc and other resealable bags (with and without zippers)
- Newspaper sleeves
- Film/overwrap (examples: thin plastic over a case of water bottles or paper towels)
- Dry cleaning bags
Please Do NOT Recycle:
- Paper shipping bags or paper bubble mailers
- Salad bags
- Frozen food bags
- Hard plastics
- Individual food wrappers (example: string cheese)
- Saran/cling wrap
- Cellophane
- Twist ties and plastic ties used on food bags
- Trex decking scraps
Find more information here about what NexTrex can and can not recycle.
Green Business Partnership
In October 2020, Comsewogue Public Library achieved certification through the Green Business Partnership. Some accomplishments include: installing a “cool roof,” replacing an outdated HVAC system with energy efficient units, and installing an Energy Star hot water heater. Additionally, the Library has made it easier for its community and staff to recycle paper, metal cans, glass, and plastic on Library property. The Library has also begun converting older lighting units to fixtures that take LED bulbs. The Library aims to continually reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and water use.
Sustainable Libraries Initiative
In January 2022, the Library was designated a “Sustainable Library” by the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI) through the New York Library Association. The SLI provides libraries with a step-by-step process to implement sustainable decisions that are environmentally sound, socially equitable, and economically feasible. Through participation in the program, the Library has strengthened existing community partnerships such as food collections and distributions with Long Island Cares, and created new ones, including collaborating with General Needs, a local nonprofit that serves Long Island veterans and their families. We have also reviewed and updated several policies to reflect sustainable goals. For example, our Library’s Collection Development Policy has been updated to incorporate community input, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
We aim to continue to create partnerships, policies, and procedures which make our community resilient and strong.
For further information on our certification, please read a press release from the Sustainable Libraries Initiative or view a presentation created by the Library’s Green Team which highlights some accomplishments.
Mission / Vision / Values
Our Mission
Enriching lives by providing access to information and experiences at a reasonable cost to our community.
Our Vision
We’re dedicated to fostering deep connections within our community, empowering every individual through discovery, exploration, and growth.
Our Values
We listen.
We’re connected.
We’re trustworthy.