Thursday, October 1, 2026
Vinyl records are alive and well at the Long Beach Public Library. Alexandra Blau, the library’s media librarian and acting head of youth services and Tom Wojciechowski, the library’s program coordinator joined forces to create what is considered a one-of-a-kind experience that’s bringing a growing community together through shared musical experiences.
Blau started the Vinyl Collectors Club in March of 2023, a monthly gathering featuring a theme such as favorite soundtracks, cover songs or 1980s records. Members bring their chosen records, select a track and are given a stage to share their personal stories about the music to an engaged audience.
“We have people who collected records back in the day, and since have pulled them out of storage, along with high schoolers who are just starting to collect,” she said. “We’re stimulating each other’s imaginations and shaping each other’s taste. I’m so proud of the diversity of the playlists that I post after our meetings every month.”
That same year, Wojciechowski was approached with an Innovations in Technology grant opportunity through the Long Island Library Resource Council.
“I’ve been a record nerd my entire life,” he said, “so I naturally thought this innovation is to go back to a 100-year-old technology and bring it into the library.”
He developed an idea for a Vinyl Listening Lounge, which opened in October 2023. The Lounge is the first of its kind in Long Island, a dedicated space outfitted with two listening stations and state-of-the-art headphones.
When Wojciechowski approached Blau for help in curating a circulating record collection that would span genres and decades, he was pleased to find a kindred spirit in his music knowledge and passion for vinyl.
“It was complete synchronicity, having a partner who cared as much as me, and Long Beach is a cool, beachy music town that is an ideal setting for a project of this type,” Wojciechowski said.
The pair also started a podcast that reaches out to local business owners and community leaders to discuss their love of music.
“The Club would not be as successful without the lounge, and vice versa”, says Blau. “We have the most amazing and supportive administration and community of people, some who come as far as Smithtown or New Jersey to join us every month.”
One of these people making the trip every month is Great Neck resident Jack Warren, who saw a flyer in his local library promoting the club.
“I’ve been looking for something like this for so long: a music club that’s hosted like a book club. It’s the coolest thing,” said Warren.
Ben Simens, 24, is the owner of Dark Star Vinyl, a record pop-up shop based in Long Beach and Atlantic Beach.
“The Club breaks through age and cultural barriers,” said Simens. “I love meeting new people by sharing connections to an album or song, as well as seeing familiar faces every month."
Teen vinyl enthusiast Samantha Hurwitz clutches a 1987 Smiths compilation reissue, and counts used vinyl by Billie Holiday and Nina Simone as some of her favorites.
“When I listen to music online now, it doesn’t feel right”, Hurwitz said. “I love keeping the vinyl tradition alive, and it makes me happy to share records that I really enjoy.”
Blau noted that teens actually crave to disconnect from their devices.
“We have a program where we spin vinyl for nursing home residents, and talk about their memories surrounding the music,” Blau said. “While we have seniors sharing their memories of the Beatles or Elton John, we have 15-year-olds discovering those same artists for the first time in the Lounge. You can’t ask for a better career milestone than that.”
Two years ago, Wojciechowski had no idea that the lounge would become so popular with teenagers.
“There are so few activities that teenagers can participate in that require no money, and just as public libraries historically provide access to books, we’re providing access to music, and I love that,” he said.
Check out the LBPL Vinyl Collectors Club updates on Facebook, as well as playlists and podcasts at LongBeachLibrary.org/vinyl.
