Landmarks mark prominent features that serve to identify a particular locality. The Brentwood Public Library is a landmark that truly identifies this town as having one of the largest and finest libraries in Suffolk County. Built and opened in 1989, the current library serves as an outstanding cultural center as well as a multi facetted information resource center in the community. The library has another landmark incorporated within the facility. The Second Schoolhouse of Brentwood, built in 1906, was annexed on to the library in 1989. It is now the location for the Brentwood Public Library Local History Department. In 2006-2007 renovations are being made to update and improve the facility. The Brentwood Public Library was founded in 1937 as a result of a request made by Mrs. Julia Graner, Director of Libraries of the National Youth Administration, to the high school principal. She met with the Community Association in the Second Schoolhouse where plans were made to establish a public library. The Fire Commission granted the use of one of their dressing rooms in the firehouse as temporary quarters for the library. In 1949, the Board of Regents of the State of New York granted the Brentwood Public Library its absolute charter. The location of the library changed several times over the first twenty four years. It moved next door from the fire house to a store building on First Avenue, then to the Annex of the Brentwood Schools Administration Building, and then to a small building on the southwest corner of Third Avenue and Fourth Street. In 1961 the Library purchased property on Second Avenue and Fourth Street to erect its own building. From 1960-1970 the population increased by 50% so in 1978 a new addition was added to provide additional space. As the population continued to grow and the needs of the library changed the decision was made to build a new library. In 1989 the current library building was built on the same site and the Second Schoolhouse was annexed on to the building. Throughout its history, the Brentwood Public Library strived to continually improve the quality of its services to the community. Today we look back at our humble beginnings, and take pride in what we have become, a landmark of distinction in Brentwood and in all of Suffolk County. A. Bennett --December 2006 -- Local History Newsletter