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| The Library was founded in February 1908 by the Ladies Literary Society and was organized as a reading room. Membership grew and on November 22, 1909 the library incorporated in the name of the Port Jefferson Free Library Association. Thomas J. Ritch became the first president of the Board of Trustees. The organizers and the Trustees received a provisional charter from the Regents of the State of New York on December 16, 1909 with the provision that they would not be given an absolute charter until they could acquire $1,000 worth of property and show evidence of financial support.
The original library was located on the second floor of the Hulse store, which was north of the building that housed Brownıs Fish Market. In 1910, the Good Templarıs Hall was purchased for use as a library building. In 1911 the library received its permanent charter from the State of New York, and in 1912, the absolute charter.
The present building on Thompson and East Main Streets, begun in 1924, was officially opened the following year. The money for the building was raised by a subscription drive and through projects such as food and rummage sales. In 1967 an addition of approximately 14,000 square feet was constructed on land that was donated to the library by H. V. Kaltenborn. Thirty years later, on November 2, 1997 an 8,500 sq. ft. addition was officially dedicated. The new spaces provided a beautiful Childrenıs Library with its own activity room; an ample bookstack area, a quiet study porch, a gallery hall and elevator access. Renovations allowed for a Young Adult section, computer workstations, and restoration of the original 1924 building as an Adult Reading Room. Several years later in 2003 an enclosed atrium was constructed as a protected entry. The Library is a Free Association Library. The term "Association Library" refers to a library established by a group of private individuals operating as an association; and the term "free" as applied to a library means one that is maintained solely as a public service for the benefit and free use of all the people of the community. The Library, chartered to serve residents of the Port Jefferson Union Free School District #6, is a public facility that extends services and borrowing privileges to library cardholders of all Suffolk County Libraries. In 2005 the Library building was officially placed on the National Register of Historic Places, a distinction designating it as worthy of preservation and restoration. Estherine C. Bonanno, Library Director
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