Port Washington Public Library

Most beautiful library in Nassau. Has outdoor seating with views of the quaint street. Also study rooms and classrooms. Large selection, many copies of new releases. Very roomy inside but not enough tables some days & the organization of materials is not intuitive/no map. You can tell that people like coming here.

We visit this library quite often because they have the best children’s section around! The recent upgrades are absolutely amazing—so impressive that all my friends and family who live out of town make it a point to visit whenever they’re in the area. The staff are always friendly and helpful, making every visit a pleasure.

The library is spread across multiple floors, each with a diverse and extensive collection of books for every age group. The kids’ section stands out with its variety of indoor activities and a beautifully designed custom garden featuring interactive elements—perfect for enjoying on nice weather days.

We absolutely love this place and feel lucky to have such a fantastic resource right in our neighborhood. Highly recommend it to families and book lovers alike!

This isn’t the closest library to my home, but I often make the trip here anyway. This place offers a wonderful space for everyone, regardless of age or gender. The ground floor is a paradise for kids, designed perfectly to suit their age, engaging them while allowing them to quietly enjoy their books. The industrial-style corridor contrasts sharply with the cozy atmosphere of other areas, and the artwork displayed along the way makes artistic bubbles sparkle before your eyes. I absolutely love the second floor, where floor-to-ceiling windows frame the distant water views, creating a dynamic landscape that changes with the seasons—sunsets are especially mesmerizing. The rooms on the right side of the second floor are filled with students studying diligently, and seeing their focus always motivates me to keep learning. Whenever friends ask me for a great place to visit, I always blurt out, ‘Port Washington Public Library!’

Beautiful structure. Very energetic presence in the community with many programs and services. Large collection of multi media material. Impressive collection of historical data and documents about Port Washington.

Another library checked off in our expedition of Long Island libraries. Again, as I have a 3 year old, I mostly comment on the children's wings.

First, the parking lot was enormous, so it had plenty of spots when I visited at around 5 o'clock last night. My only complaint is that the enterance and exit was too narrow. The lot itself is huge, so why have such a narrow entrance? Plus there is a crossing guard turtle in practically challenging you to avoid it.

Anyway, the children's library...holy moley! It was big and bright; a junior bibliophile's delight. First, I got the hello from the librarian with a "if there is anything I can help you with please let me know." Big W. Second, a huge selection of books displayed very nicely. The children in the play area were very friendly. A few more puzzles would be nice as well as a place to store them for clean up time.

Next to the play area was the bathroom and water fountain. Well maintained.

I also noticed a story time area and a quiet reading nook. The computer area was sectioned away from the reading area. Tablets would be nice for toddlers as the computers lure them with false expectations of usability for their little toddler pointer fingers.

Next, I loved that there was a coat and hat section for parents. Often I will go to a library and lay my coat on the floor or a couch. Coat and hat section--- nice touch.

Finally, a library can have lots of bells and whistles but it is ultimately defined in my book by the librarians. I wish I knew the name of the librarian who was there whem I visited. I would have asked but I didn't wanna appear creepy. Anyway, she introduced me to a new Shel Silverstein book that I had not know. Also, she found me a few books that contained international onomatopoeia. I'll use her recommendations for a few lessons with my ESL students.

I think I may have to reorder my top 5 libraries on Long Island.

Gratitiude Jackie and Harold Spielman.