History of the Wantagh Library

     Established by a vote of district residents in February 1962, the Wantagh Public Library is a school district library serving approximately 18,567 residents of the Wantagh Community.

     The Library first opened in a small rented-store of 2,000 square feet at 3366 Park Avenue in December, 1962 with a collection of 3,000 volumes, a staff of three members and many vounteers from the community, including the Friends of the Wantagh Library, who were very active gaining support for establishing a library within the Wantagh community.

     In March of 1967, the Wantagh community approved a bond-issue of $495,000 to purchase the library's present site and construct a new library building. The Library Board of Trustees engaged the services of architect Henry J. Stojowski of Lattingtown, Long Island, who designed a 16,000 square foot library. The building was completed and occupied in December 1970. It features a unique center core split-level, multi-tier book stack. The administrative area of the library was expanded by 900 feet in 1988.

     The policies of the library are determined by a Board of Trustees, who are directly elected by residents of the community. It is the function of the Library Board of Trustees to interpret the will of the community regarding the services of the Library.