Up until the early 20th century, Bellmore was a rural agricultural village with a population of about 600. Frequent train service to and from New York City in the 1920s would make Bellmore a commuter town bringing in several thousands of new inhabitants. While there were a few private libraries in town, during this time, residents who wanted access to a public library would have to travel to the Freeport Memorial Library five miles away and pay a small membership fee there. With the population growing rapidly, many residents were eager to establish a public library in Bellmore.
Organized in 1948 by civic-minded residents and the local PTA, the Bellmore Memorial Library started in one room of an old wooden schoolhouse staffed by volunteers with 150 volumes borrowed from the NY State Library and a handful of donated books. The newly formed board of trustees decided to name the library the “Bellmore Memorial Library” to honor veterans of World War I and World War II and to get the added support from the local branches of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The library received its provisional charter in June 1948, as the trustees were working on finding a permanent site. Since the small wooden schoolhouse would be knocked down to make way for a new school (the Winthrop Avenue School), the library had to move to an unheated two room apartment on the corner of Pettit and Grand Avenues. By 1950, the Friends of the Library (a group of volunteers who organize themselves independently to support their local library) found a home above Bedford Tailor at 213 Bedford Avenue, a heated three-room apartment rented for $50 per month. With the support of the Friends of the Bellmore Memorial Library, the Trustees received approval from residents to purchase land and start construction on a new facility. The original building, which is the current Children’s department of the library, on Clarendon and Bedford was completed in May 1953, measuring 2,952 square feet and costing $53,365. As part of the building project, a flagpole memorial was installed on the grounds in honor of Judge George S. Johnson, a prominent member of the community who served as District Judge for many years. By May 24, 1954, the Absolute Charter was granted by the State Education Department.
With the population boom in the early 1950s, the need for more books and services grew. But it was the housing development in the late 50s in South Bellmore that really prompted the enlargement of the library. The first addition to the library was completed in 1968. Floor space increased from 2,952 square feet to 13,820 square feet. By 1970, the number of books exceeded 33,251 volumes and circulation went up to 107,645. The second extension would be completed in 1990 for about $1.5 million. The total area of the library went from 13,500 to 21,000 square feet. This allowed for expansion of reference, children’s, youth and administrative areas as well as increased computer facilities.
Now a bustling hamlet of over 16,000 people, Bellmore’s needs have changed; especially in the digital age. Since its foundation, and after two physical expansions, the library has broadened services and holdings to meet the needs of the community. By 2020, the total number of physical holdings reached 56,256, electronic materials (such as online databases and ebooks) was 139,153, and annual programs offered 893. In 2021, the library offers online and computer services, in person and virtual programs, and physical books as well as e-books. The Bellmore Memorial Library is proud to continue to serve the ever changing community of Bellmore.