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Community Corner

Library Director Looks Forward to New Chapter

Judith Lockman is retiring as of Friday.

Judith Lockman has a favorite spot at the Syosset Public Library. It’s the fireplace on the second floor in Readers Services.

“It’s a wonderful spot. It’s very cozy,” said Lockman.

She will soon have to enjoy that spot as a visitor. After 9 1/2 years as the library director, Lockman is retiring. Her last day is Friday, as Assistant Director Karen Liebman will take over.

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During her years at the library, Lockman has seen many great improvements.

“I started when they wanted to expand the library, a huge reconstruction project," Lockman says. "This library has expanded in so many ways beyond the architecture of the building. This library offers so many wonderful things. You can have a cup of coffee, attend a lecture, enjoy a concert, play Scrabble or read a book. It is an incredible place.”

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Serving between 1,000-1,400 people a day, the Syosset Public Library is the largest library in Nassau County.

Lockman supervises 82 employees and admits she will greatly miss the staff.

“I worked with the most incredible people," Lockman says. "I will miss them a lot. Karen has been a joy to work with. I am delighted that she is taking over my position. We have worked together for the past seven years.”

Lockman has spent 38 years serving libraries in Nassau and Suffolk counties. She began her career teaching English in Dix Hills for one year but decided she was more interested in the school library.

“I saw that I could reach more children through books in the library," Lockman says. "By handing a kid the right book, you can make quite a difference.”

She went on to work at the South Huntington and East Meadow libaries. She has also held positions as the department manager at Oceanside Public Library and director at Seaford Public Library.

Reminiscing about her passion for reading, Lockman was destined to spend her professional days in a library.

“To me, reading has the power to transform," she explains. "My relatives were immigrants from Russia and Hungary. They came here in the 1900s. They improved their language through the library. The library was sacred. Growing up in Levittown, I used to ride my bike to the library. I have always enjoyed the company of a good book.”

Living in Manorville, Lockman is the parent of two children and grandparent of two. She plans to travel and spend time with her grandkids in retirement.

“Even though my heart will always be with this library," Lockman admits, "I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life.”

 

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