Library in Mastic Beach shortens hours over safety and security fears
Library officials said concerns have persisted despite increased security measures and patrols by Suffolk County Police officers.
More Stories
Some Suffolk County community members will have less time to use a valuable public resource after the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library announced it will close its Mastic Beach branch four hours early most days because of ongoing safety concerns.
The changes took effect yesterday and impact Monday through Saturday hours, which were 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The branch will now close at 5 p.m. on those days.
The branch's Sunday hours of 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. were not changed.
A note on the library system's website said the changes were made "particularly as daylight hours grow shorter, to help provide a safer environment for patrons and staff."
"Unfortunately, the Mastic Beach branch has experienced ongoing safety and security challenges, including vandalism, drug-related activity, threatening behavior, and incidents involving violence and firearms in the surrounding area," Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library Board of Trustees President Joseph Maiorana told News 12 in a statement.
Suffolk County police said the Seventh Precinct assigned two officers to patrol the area surrounding the Mastic Beach branch from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. from May to the middle of September.
Officers issued 15 summonses for open alcohol on Neighborhood Road, made two drug-related arrests and one arrest for assault following a shooting incident in the area on Aug. 23 around 1:15 a.m.
Suffolk County police said there have been increased patrols around the clock since that detail ended.
The department said there have been 45 calls for service year to date to the "Mastic Shirley Library," including 16 for disturbances, 11 for alarms, four criminal incidents, two larcenies, one for graffiti and one for domestic violence.
News 12 followed up and asked the department if all these calls were specifically for the Mastic Beach branch or across the entire library system. The department said it would get back to us.
The Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library Board of Trustees will hold its next meeting on Monday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. in the main library at 407 William Floyd Parkway in Shirley.
