From the outside, this library is quite deceiving in its size. Nestled in Port Jefferson village,…read moreyou will find what appears to be a quite small library but once inside it extends beyond your imagination. Stamp #2: Popped in to get my Suffolk County Public Libraries 2023 Summer Tour passport stamped. Toured around the library because I LOVE books. Not surprising, there were so many cool things to "check out" & explore: STEAM kits, instruments, Take home DIY kits, 3-D printing and so much more!

I haven't checked out any books here, but here's my review from the perspective of a student who…read morecame to this library to study. There are some practical downsides to studying here. Noise: The "mezzanine and lower stacks" is the main study space with the most tables and chairs. Unfortunately, the space is next to the main entrance/front desk area without any separating doors, so it can be loud. Headphones will probably be important if you need to focus. The room is also right below the children's room, so you can sometimes hear kids footsteps running around. They also allow tutoring. There's a "quiet reading room" across the lobby from the main study area, but it is also right next to the main lobby without any separating doors, so I imagine it's also loud. There's not a lot of carpet and a lot of laminate, so noises tend to echo. Limited desks and few plugs: There are only four small desks with plugs (eight seats in total, but the tables are small and it would be super weird if someone you didn't know sat next to you, so there are functionally only four seats with accessible plugs). The quiet reading room only has one desk, and I'm not sure if there are plugs. Ambiance: In the last few years, they've installed greige laminate flooring and movable office tables with wheeled plastic chairs. The vibe has shifted from "cozy library" to "office space/cafeteria". Good things: There is a free parking lot with no time limit directly behind the library. There are only about 8-10 spots but we didn't have any issues getting a spot midday on a weekday. Bathroom is clean. There was a large community space in the basement that probably has good events. There are interesting/useful items you can check out like board games, sewing machines, etc. There's also a 3D printer.

The children's department should be a warm and welcoming part of the library. Unfortunately, my…read morevisit today was disappointing. The two women behind the desk in the children's room were noticeably unfriendly and unapproachable. Their unnecessary comments and disapproving looks toward the toddlers' normal play behavior created an uncomfortable atmosphere. A children's area should be a place that encourages joy, learning, and community -- not one where families feel unwelcome.

Where to begin?! Since I moved here (over 30-plus years ago), this beautiful historic library has…read morebeen the heart of community for me. Nestled in East Setauket, my children (as well as myself) grew up attending wonderful programs (summer reading, endless DIY crafts, paint nights, tech help, etc.), checking out a variety of resources (books, magazines, dvds, cds, etc.), finding a quiet place to read and/or study, getting help and advice from welcoming librarians, viewing interesting exhibits, meeting up with friends, and so much more! And even though my children are all grown up now, I still regularly find my way back here ... Most recently, they have opened a terrace for all to enjoy! If you haven't done so already, go "check out" Emma Clark Library!

What a treat!! It's apx an hours ferry from Bridgeport to Port Jefferson and worth every minute…read more This is such a cute quaint Village with shops, restaurants, coffee shops, ice cream, a sandy shore, cafes, with some being water front with great views. We especially enjoyed the olive oil/balsamic vinegar store. It's completely walkable with tons of pedestrian crosswalks. One day was not enough to explore all it has to offer. There are also public restrooms, so always helpful.

The Village of Port Jefferson has been our home for over 25 years…read more Over the years I have seen business open and close, People chasing Pokemon characters as well as the annual Charles Dickens festival. This has always been a welcomed festival. There are horse drawn carriages, people roasting marshmallow and of course the cast of Dickens characters just popping up everywhere. The waterfront is a big Port jefferson draw. People enjoying grabbing an ice cream cone and seeing the ferry shuffle back and forth to Connecticut. There is the Martha Jefferson ferry which offers 2 hour tours during the summer. There are also fishing party boats as well as the town boat launch for personal boaters. A few years ago, I was starting to get annoyed on Saturday mornings. Once I finished my morning errands, I like to swing by Starbucks and grab a cup of to unwind. During the summer, all of the street parking is taken and Starbucks was packed. Now, I order my specialty coffee with my app and head towards the waterfront to sit on my bench and enjoy the scenery. My kids loved going to Rocketship Park, my dogs love coming with me to town and shopping the Sunday Flea Market. Village of Port Jefferson has been an integral part of my family. Maybe one day I'll have grandchildren, bring them to Starbucks for a kids Hot Chocolate and take them to Rocketship park.

Every single time I am in there, the one, middle-aged blonde worker looks so annoyed to be…read morebothered. You wait a few minutes, she comes out with blank stare, finishes and goes back to office. It often feels like no one is there. It also closes for lunch for over an hour. Avoid if possible.

I have always had great service at the Port Jeff PO. It is small with just one terrific lady…read moreworking so yea, there are times she is in the back doing other tasks. Just ring the bell and she comes right out. Want lousy service, go to the Malverne PO where we used to live.

We got a Groupon for this place, which makes the price a lot more reasonable. They don't open until…read more1 pm on the weekends, and on Saturdays they don't even give guided tours. Instead, they give an "augmented reality" audio tour which is kind of hit or miss. The house was preserved for the historical significance of the Townsend family, one of which was a spy for George Washington. I didn't feel there was a ton of information on the family though. Pointing their phone at the different objects in a room turned on audio about them, but only a couple of rooms in the actual house were interactive. The rest didn't have signs, and one loan employee was around to answer questions at the end. The exhibit in the visitor center was nice though. I just don't think the AR experience was really up to replacing a person, both in amount of information and the uncanny valley, unnerving portraits. There is street parking and a nearby lot that are free on weekends. The gift shop is minimal. It was an okay spot to visit, but I would recommend coming on Sunday or whenever they offer actual tours to get a more thorough understanding of the house and the history of the people who lived here.

We went here on a winter weekend, and were fortunate to have the builsings to ourselves. The…read morehelpful staff took out modest admission fee and explained that they don't do tours on Saturdays but they do have tour devices using augmented reality. That means that when you walk through the buildings, you scan the cell phone device on important paintings and artifacts and they talk to you with further information about who or what they are. The small building that contains the entrance is packed with paintings, dioramas, documents and artifacts. Next you walk to the main house, built in the 1730's, and housing the Townsend family. At the time of the Revolutionary War, Samuel had to make room for a British colonel. In spite of the fact that he sympathised with the patriots, he maintained good relations with his "Guest." At the time of the war, the house had eight rooms. One of his sons was one of the leaders of the Culpepper Spy Ring, Placing the home on the National Registry of Historic Places. Each room was elegantly decorated, with the exception of the space for the enslaved housekeeper. In spite of the fact that we didn't get a formal tour, the staff member tagged along with us and kept up a spirited conversation - even giving us a bonus look at the Victorian wing which doubled the size of the structure. The house is said to be haunted, of course. Very highly recommended. The full set of photos can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/terryballard/albums/72177720323110655

I like that I can pick up my own mail and nobody else is going through it Love this post office…read morebest thing I ever did !!!

long lines never enough staff…read morenot helpful in solving problems Couldn't find mail after we stopped it twice Should have dedicated passport section instead of tying up regular staff