Throughout the year, the Franklin Square Library serves as a gathering place for the community, offering opportunities to engage beyond books and studying. Many of its programs, for both adults and children, continue to grow, according to library leaders.
Jason Alivno, president of the Friends of the Franklin Square Library, said advocacy events for the library better help serve the community. The group often hosts informational sessions to promote the library’s resources. Last month, it hosted a free hot cocoa and cookie party to help community members learn more about the benefits the library offers. The Friends are a 501(c)(3) organization, so they can raise more funds that go directly toward the library, especially for items not covered by the budget. They recently raised money to provide new carpeting for the children’s room, further supporting the community’s youth.
Currently, when you walk into the Franklin Square Library and look above, there are several pieces of artwork that hold fragments of Franklin Square history, sitting high on the wall. However, these pieces were not originally intended to be housed in the library. Originally, the paintings, which belong to the historical society, were housed in the Franklin Square National Bank building, which features American colonial architecture throughout. Lacking space, they were moved to the library. The Franklin Square Historical Museum holds lectures by Dr. Paul van Wile, founder and former president of the Franklin Square Historical Society, about what the scenes in the paintings depict. In one of the paintings is Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park.
Over the past five years, the Franklin Square Library has seen steadily increasing foot traffic, according to library director Aviva Kane. Cardholders can borrow museum passes free of charge, and popular game nights regularly draw full crowds. The library also features a children’s room with events such as interactive lectures and story times. In addition, it has expanded community resources, including Narcan kits for drug-related emergencies. On March 15, the Friends of the Franklin Square Library will host an afternoon tea party celebrating the television show “Murder, She Wrote”. Kane said the library continues to evolve as a hub for education, entertainment, and community safety, serving residents of all ages.
