Friends of the Library Presents Award to Damaris Mani-Munoz

The Friends of the Huntington Public Library has presented Huntington High School Class of 2024 member Damaris Mani-Munoz with a $750 scholarship. She plans to study public health with a concentration in biology and a minor in music at SUNY Geneseo.

A member of six separate academic honor societies, Ms. Mani-Munoz was recognized as a Distinguished Senior last spring. She said that keeping organized and focusing on protecting her peace have been the keys to her success. She stays organized by using a calendar app and she makes sure to complete all of her school work as soon as possible.

The teenager ran on the Blue Devil varsity cross country, winter and spring track and field teams. She’s won awards in the National History Day contest, advancing to the state finals and participated in the Global Health Leadership Conference at Johns Hopkins University.

“Talking out” her troubles with someone she can depend upon when events begin to overwhelm her has also helped Ms. Mani-Munoz to be successful. She said she has “loved meeting and making new friendships with people on different track teams.”

Ms. Mani-Munoz has been chosen to perform with the All-County and LI String Festival Assn. orchestras.

The Huntington Public Library is one of the oldest public libraries in Suffolk County with roots dating back to 1759. Thirty-nine people joined together to form the first circulating library in Huntington with Reverend Ebenezer Prime as the first “library-keeper.” The library consisted of 115 volumes which were housed in a “box of shelves.” A book could be borrowed for two months but a fine of "one copper per diem" per book was charged.

The library was destroyed during the British occupation of Huntington during the Revolutionary War and it emerged again in 1801 as a circulating library. It was known as the Huntington Lyceum between 1827 and 1843. Again, it was reorganized as the Huntington Library Association until 1858. In 1869, the Huntington Lyceum emerged once more; featuring debates and lectures, and developed into the Young Men's Literary Association and continued until 1871.

Mary Talmage was considered to be the “mother of the library” because of her dedication to library services. The first Board meeting was held at her home on Fairview Street in 1875. It was in 1875 that the Huntington Library Association was formed and it became incorporated in 1883.

Through fundraising efforts, the construction of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building was completed in 1892, commemorating our Civil War soldiers. It became the site for the new library. In July 1958, the Library was then moved to the present location at 338 Main Street, to the former NY Telephone Company building which was built in 1916.