Governor Kathy Hochul recently unveiled a list of 20 exceptional sites across New York recommended for inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places—and tucked among the likes of Marcus Garvey Park and a historic octagon house is one of Long Island’s own architectural and civic treasures: the Lynbrook Public Library.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just any local library. This is a full-blown Neoclassical Revival masterpiece featuring Ionic columns, Beaux-Arts flair, and a carved bust of Pallas Athena watching over bookworms like a mythological librarian-in-chief.
A Quick Summary:
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Location: 56 Eldert Street, Lynbrook, Nassau County
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Style: Neoclassical Revival with Beaux-Arts and Palladian influences
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Architects: Herts & Tallant, best known for iconic NYC theaters and the Brooklyn Academy of Music
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Built: 1929, expanded with care in 1992
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Significance: Embodies the spirit of the Public Library Movement and Lynbrook’s transformation from rural hamlet to bustling village
Lynbrook Library: Not Just a Pretty Façade
What makes the Lynbrook Public Library stand out isn’t just its monumental scale, fanlight windows, or Corinthian-helmeted Athena perched above the entrance (yes, really). It’s the story it tells about civic ambition, women-led activism, and a village coming into its own in the early 20th century.
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Designed by the renowned firm Herts & Tallant, who usually built theaters and big-city landmarks, this library is one of only two surviving libraries credited to them.
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From the elevated entrance staircase (symbolizing the rise through learning) to the fluted Ionic columns and intricately carved stone garlands, the building is all about symbolism and scale.
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A 1992 addition by Bentel & Bentel provided more modern space—without compromising the original 1929 façade.
Born from Books, Baked Goods, and the Friday Club
The library’s origin is as compelling as its architecture:
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It began in 1913 thanks to a group of local women—many involved in the Friday Club, a literary and civic group (who, by the way, were also active in the women’s suffrage movement).
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These women held cake sales to fund the first books and library space in Mechanics Hall. No grants. No outside funding. Just cake and grit.
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By 1929, Lynbrook residents voted to fund a permanent library, with land donated by a local benefactor. It opened that same year and received its official state charter in 1930.
A Library That Grew With the Village
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Lynbrook’s transformation from “Near Rockaway” to “Pearsalls” to “Lynbrook” (an anagram of Brooklyn, thank you very much) mirrored the rise of railroads and suburbia.
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As the population boomed in the early 20th century, the library became a crucial civic anchor—offering not just books, but public programs and a gathering space.
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Even at the height of the Great Depression, circulation soared to 100,000 volumes per year.
Architectural Features That Deserve Their Own Coffee Table Book:
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A grand staircase leads to the entrance, flanked by lampposts representing enlightenment.
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Above the door? A carved bust of Athena, complete with symbolic details like Medusa’s head, snakes, and a corset of scales.
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Inside, there’s a glass-enclosed mezzanine, vaulted ceilings, a grand piano, and a brass chandelier that somehow survived a 1956 fire.
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Windows? Massive. Fanlights? Everywhere. Molding? Crowned and dentilated like it’s nobody’s business.
A Win for Preservation—and Possibly for the Budget
Once officially listed, the library becomes eligible for:
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Matching state preservation grants
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Federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits
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And access to a range of preservation programs that help keep historic buildings functioning for future generations
With New York already leading the nation in the use of historic tax credits—racking up over $16.4 billion in project expenditures since 2009—this could mean big things for Lynbrook’s beloved library.
Final Chapter for Lynbrook? Hardly.
The Lynbrook Public Library isn’t just a building. It’s a monument to community willpower, architectural beauty, and the belief that education belongs to everyone. With this historic nomination, its story is far from over—it’s just getting the recognition it deserves.
Stay tuned: once the National Park Service approves the listing, Lynbrook’s library will officially take its place among the nation’s historic landmarks. And with Athena watching over it, we’d say it’s in good hands.
Photos: New York State application for historic registration.
