Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Island Park Public Library has entered a new chapter, as longtime Director Jessica Koenig has stepped down, and Tracy Horodyski taking on the leadership role.
Koenig, who joined the library in July 2013, arrived during a pivotal period in the facility’s history, when it was still recovering from Hurricane Sandy and undergoing repairs. Just one week after she started, the library reopened to the public.
Over the next 12 years, Koenig helped expand its services and community offerings. Children’s programming grew substantially, while adult offerings expanded to include more exercise classes, tai chi and social clubs such as Scrabble and Canasta. During the pandemic, the library adapted by launching outdoor concerts in its parking lot, creating new opportunities for community engagement when indoor gatherings were limited.
“I had been a director somewhere else, but I was looking for somewhere to stay for a while, and I was so happy to come here,” Koenig said. “I’ve been happy from my first day to my last.”
She also helped establish new traditions, including a flag ceremony that eventually became a stand-alone event in recognition of Flag Day. Throughout her tenure, Koenig emphasized community partnerships, strengthening relationships with local schools and village organizations.
“This has been a great place to work,” she said. “It’s a wonderful community.”
As she prepares for retirement, Koenig and her husband, plan to relocate to Pennsylvania to be closer to their son.
Tracy Horodyski, former director of the Westbury Memorial Public Library, has taken over as director. Though she has only recently joined the Island Park Library staff, she said she has already been impressed by the community and the dedication of both the employees and library’s board of trustees.
“It’s a very close-knit community that cares about each other,” Horodyski said. “I’m looking forward to working more with this staff, who has been absolutely wonderful so far, including this library board, who shows that they love their community and this library.”
Horodyski said she hoped to build on the facility’s successes while modernizing some of its operations. Among her goals are increasing automation, reducing reliance on paper-based processes and exploring building improvements that could enhance both staff operations and patrons’ experience.
“I'm really looking forward to this being my new home and finishing out the rest of my career here,” Horodyski said.
The transition has been carefully planned to ensure continuity. Although Horodyski has assumed all administrative responsibilities as director, Koenig will remain at the library during the summer in a part-time librarian role, making the most of her institutional knowledge, helping with projects and serving patrons. The arrangement has allowed for a smooth transfer of leadership while ensuring continuity for staff and residents.
To mark the leadership change, the library hosted a combined farewell and welcome event on June 5 that gave residents, local officials and longtime patrons a chance to thank Koenig for her years of service and meet Horodyski.
Both women expressed confidence in the library’s future. Horodyski said she looked forward to becoming more involved in the community and continuing to strengthen the library’s relationships with residents as well as local organizations.
Koenig, meanwhile, said she looked forward to starting a new chapter in Pennsylvania. But, she added, “Island Park will always be home, and I’m looking forward to coming back to visit.”
