Home for a half century

The New York Mets might have opened up their inaugural season in 1962, but for Valley Stream residents, a bigger opening took place that same year as the Valley Stream Public Library moved to its new building on the Village Green after operating for years on Rockaway Avenue.

Fifty years later, Valley Stream residents celebrated the anniversary of the building they now call the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library. On May 12, library officials hosted a celebration that featured authors, musical and dance performances, and a children’s story time.

Local elected officials also made their way to the library to pay homage to the anniversary celebration. Mayor Ed Fare and the Board of Trustees presented Library Director Mamie Eng with a citation to commemorate the day in addition to a citation from Sen. Dean Skelos.

Eng received a lot of praise for her work as director, but said the day was not about any individual person. “I don’t see it as recognition for myself,” Eng said, “I see it as more recognition for the institution of the library. To me it’s a very important place for learning, education and fun. People feel it’s not as relevant but it still has a major role in a lot of people’s lives.”

Councilman James Darcy, a native Valley Streamer, said he could remember walking to the library after school to check out books. “My teachers probably wouldn’t like to hear this but I always say that I learned more from the Valley Stream Public Library than from all my years in education,” Darcy said. “This is an important part of every community. We here in Valley Stream happen to be blessed by having such a great facility and a great director in Mamie.”

Fare, a fellow longtime Valley Stream resident, also has fond memories of going to the library as a child. “Everybody remembers coming here when they were young,” he said, “or checking out their first book, or participating in all the different reading events.” Fare added that he often attended the library’s various reading programs.