Lending library offers free books in Northport Village Park, thanks to local Eagle Scout

Michael Monda has a love for problem-solving and creating solutions that will benefit the community. That’s exactly why he decided that for his Eagle Scout project, he’d offer a free lending library to the Northport Village Park in honor of the late Ocean Avenue School librarian, Mrs. Theresa Haar.

“During the summer of 2020, it had become apparent that many people were unhappy with continued closures of public services, such as libraries and the food pantry. Recognizing this, I took inspiration from a little library that I had come across in the town of Greenport, and chose to bring them to easily accessible places in our community,” Michael explained.

In total, Michael has built four lending libraries, with homes in Northport, East Northport and Huntington Station.

This week, Michael presented a lending library to the Village, which will be placed next to the Chamber of Commerce information booth in the park. Michael wished to formally recognize the kindness and generosity of the Andrew McMorris Foundation and the Northport Kiwanis in helping to complete this project.

His library was designed to match the booth’s structure and colors. Michael said, “My little libraries are made of MBO plywood, and have rich mahogany doors and trim. I used aluminum as waterproof roofing, and everything is waterproofed with oil-based paint to prevent decomposition.”

The Village Park library will allow people to take and leave books as they please. Michael noted, “There’s no need for residents to return their literature, but the donating of books is highly encouraged.” It’s dedicated to Mrs. Haar, the longtime librarian at Ocean Avenue School who passed away from cancer over a year ago. And it will be stocked and maintained by Ocean Avenue teacher, Mrs. Stephanie Campbell.

Village Trustee Mercy Smith, who helped Michael organize this project, said, “On behalf of the Mayor, Board of Trustees, the Chamber of Commerce, and the entire Northport Village Community, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Michael Mondo, Eagle Scout candidate from Troop 41, for choosing Northport Village Park as the site for his final project, a little lending library. Michael is not only sharing his love of literature with us all, but also honoring longtime Ocean Avenue school librarian, Mrs. Haar, who passed away too soon.”

Trustee Smith added, “As an Ocean mom of two alumni, Michael has given us back the gift of reading. The ability to disconnect from technology, and truly be present. And that is why the library is such an amazing addition to the Village! Books transport us all to the places where we can learn, grow, imagine, fall in love, travel, dream or escape.”

Michael’s lending library is the perfect complement to sitting on a park bench and enjoying the calming harbor views, said Trustee Smith. Now park visitors can grab a book, enjoy a quiet moment, free of technology and distractions, and bring it home to finish if they’d like. This is the type of experience that Mrs.Haar would be fond of and it embodies Michael’s motivation to be a helpful, positive community member.