Port Washington Public Library

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Port Washington Public Library Something for all ages and interests! Books, classes, events, movies, live music, and more. Visit PWPL.org for ebooks and online resources, available 24/7.

As a reminder, the Library will be open Monday, October 12, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in observation of Columbus Day.
10/12/2026

As a reminder, the Library will be open Monday, October 12, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in observation of Columbus Day.

It's Italian American Heritage Month! 🇮🇹 The history of the Italian community in Port Washington is closely tied to the ...
10/08/2026

It's Italian American Heritage Month! 🇮🇹 The history of the Italian community in Port Washington is closely tied to the sandmining industry. Starting in the 1870s, sandmining operations sprung up around Long Island as the subway system and other major infrastructure was being built in New York City. Port Washington's fine-grained "Cow Bay sand" was particularly desirable as a raw ingredient for mixing concrete. Around the turn of the 20th century, immigration became the means through which a labor force was recruited to do the heavy, dangerous work that sandmining required. Thousands of immigrants from Europe, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and Slavic nations came to Port Washington to work the sandpits, but Italians became the dominant ethnic group in the industry.

Typically, a man would come over to work, and when he had saved enough money, he would send for his family. At the sandmining operations on West Shore Road, they made their homes in barrack housing rented to them by the sandmining companies. The Italian immigrant families here made their lives in the sandbanks and had their own thriving community where together, they kept their cultural traditions alive: speaking Italian, celebrating traditional festivities, and sharing meals, customs, games, songs, and folklore from their mother country. Some descendants of these Italian sandmining families still live in Port Washington today.

📸: A group of Italian women singing traditional songs accompanied by a mandolin, 1940s; the Deriu family outside their home in the sandbanks, 1940s; sandminers play a Sardinian game called "mura," where whoever shouts the highest number is the winner, 1950s; children from the Giagu and Chessa families dressed in traditional Sardinian clothing for a picnic in the sandbanks, 1950s; the DeMelos family gathered on the shores of Hempstead Harbor, 1940s; Carole and Barbara Santoli in front of the Metropolitan Sand and Gravel Company office, 1940s.

We had an amazing time celebrating the Moon Festival at the Library! Thank you to all who joined us and happy Mid-Autumn...
10/06/2026

We had an amazing time celebrating the Moon Festival at the Library! Thank you to all who joined us and happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

Join us for a FOL Paperback swap on Saturday, October 17! At this event, patrons of ALL ages -- adults, teens, and child...
10/01/2026

Join us for a FOL Paperback swap on Saturday, October 17! At this event, patrons of ALL ages -- adults, teens, and children -- share thousands of books. You don't need to bring a book to take a book!

Please bring:
Gently used adult and teen paperbacks
ANY children's books ( paperbacks, hard covers or board books )
No more than 20 books per person

Please do not bring:
Adult and teen hard covers
Books with loose pages, broken spines, water damage or mold

Books accepted ONLY during the event hours; please do not leave books outside the library or in the lobby

This past weekend, Long Island was battered by a three-day nor'easter, causing widespread flooding, power outages, and b...
10/01/2026

This past weekend, Long Island was battered by a three-day nor'easter, causing widespread flooding, power outages, and beach erosion. As a coastal town, Port Washington is no stranger to extreme weather events. One of the most devastating storms to hit Long Island in the past century was the great New England Hurricane of 1938. Thousands of homes were destroyed, 20,000 miles of power and telephone lines were downed, and in Manhasset Bay, nearly 400 boats were ripped from their moorings and smashed or sunk, with more than 100 washing up on the beach by the Port Washington Yacht Club. Stormy weather season lasts through the winter, so be sure to be prepared, stay safe, and keep an eye on the forecast. 🌀

📸: Scenes of Port Washington in the aftermath of the Hurricane of 1938, including the debris-strewn shoreline by Louie's, downed telephone poles on Lower Main Street, a motorboat washed ashore by the Port Washington Yacht Club, and two sailboats beached by the Pan Am hangar on Manhasset Isle.

Calling all crafters, teachers, and families! Get inspired and swap supplies for your next project!Donate leftover craft...
09/30/2026

Calling all crafters, teachers, and families! Get inspired and swap supplies for your next project!

Donate leftover craft supplies on Thursday October 1st and Friday the 2nd. and come to the Library for new-to-you supplies on Saturday October 3 at our Swap! Donations are not required to participate.

Please bring puzzles and supplies such as yarn, felt, fabric, drawing and painting supplies, knitting and crochet materials, scrapbook supplies, thread or embroidery floss, sewing items, buttons or beads and if it can be used for creating things and is in good condition, it is welcome at our swap!

📣 Important news for Libby & Nassau Digital Doorway users! Starting today, you’ll need to add a PIN to your account. It’...
09/28/2026

📣 Important news for Libby & Nassau Digital Doorway users! Starting today, you’ll need to add a PIN to your account. It’s the same pin you already use to log into your library account.

Want to set or reset your PIN? Visit alisweb.org/pinreset

Questions or issues? Please call 516-883-4400.

¡Noticias importantes para los usuarios de Libby & Nassau Digital Doorway! A partir de hoy, deberán agregar un PIN a su cuenta. Es el mismo PIN que ya usan para iniciar sesión en su cuenta de la biblioteca.¿Quieren configurar o restablecer su PIN? Visiten alisweb.org/pinreset ¿Preguntas o problemas? 516-883-4400.

If you were commuting to the city from Port Washington in the early 1900s, this would be your view as a train pulled int...
09/24/2026

If you were commuting to the city from Port Washington in the early 1900s, this would be your view as a train pulled into the station! 🚂

The Long Island Railroad was extended to Port Washington in 1898. Before that time, Great Neck was the terminal station on this line. It wasn't until the Manhasset Viaduct railroad bridge could be constructed over the treacherous marshes at the southern end of Manhasset Bay that train service was able to reach Port Washington. In those days, there was no train platform - riders had to climb aboard the locomotive right from the ground next to the tracks. The Manhattan-bound "Morning Express" had three passenger cars and took just about an hour to reach the city. Steam locomotives like the one pictured here ran on the Port Washington branch until the track was electrified in 1913.

📸: A locomotive pulls into the Port Washington train station, c. 1902. A water tower on Haven Avenue can be seen in the background.

Wishing you a meaningful Yom Kippur from PWPL.
09/20/2026

Wishing you a meaningful Yom Kippur from PWPL.

Help make Halloween more affordable and sustainable! Donate clean, gently used children’s costumes and accessories in th...
09/17/2026

Help make Halloween more affordable and sustainable! Donate clean, gently used children’s costumes and accessories in the Children's Room from September 23 to September 30. Then, stop by from October 9 - 11 to find a free new-to-you costume (while supplies last during Library hours). Donations are appreciated but not required to participate. Also sponsored by Parent Resource Center.

Address

1 Library Drive
Port Washington, NY
11050

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 9pm
Tuesday 9am - 9pm
Wednesday 11am - 9pm
Thursday 9am - 9pm
Friday 9am - 9pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

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