History of Roosevelt Public Library

The Roosevelt Public Library was founded in 1934.  The original location was a one room space at One Whitehouse Avenue.  The community staffed the library and provided donated books.  In 1938, the library relocated to a larger facility at 60 Washington Avenue.  Then, in 1947, Reverend David D. Norris sold the current Nassau Road property to the newly formed Library Board of Trustees for just $10. 

Meanwhile, to meet the increasing demand for services and space, the Board of Trustees decided to relocate the library from Washington Avenue to Rose and Mansfield Avenues in 1948.   Mr. John Halliday donated a structure for the new facility. 

Prior to construction of the 1994 permanent structure, the Roosevelt Public Library building consisted of a one-room converted garage with a “dug-out” basement where the physical limitations of the building only allowed for a maximum of 19 seats at reading tables. The building was filled, and every available closet, corner, and wall crammed to capacity. The Director’s office (11×11) was shared by a part-time secretary, a supply cabinet, a periodical collection of 6,000 magazines, a file cabinet, and two desks. Limitations were so severe that the temporary structure had to be supplemented by two leased mobile trailers, one used as a children’s room, and the second as a storage area for the library’s noted Black Heritage Section.

In 1994 a two floor ADA accessible building was built and the library became a true permanent community center, serving 15,000 residents of Roosevelt as well as residents of other Nassau County neighborhoods. In 1998, the library opened the lower level of the new facility, providing additional services to the community such as a Computer Center and Adult Services.