“Th[e] mural [is] ‘KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.’ It celebrates the Patchogue-Medford Library as a place where stories spark imagination and connect community. At its center, four children of diverse backgrounds gather around an open book, their shared reading blossoming into a vivid scene that blends local history with the natural beauty of New York. A white-tailed deer, northern cardinal, and blue jay emerge alongside a rose and New York aster, symbolizing growth, harmony, and the richness of the region’s flora and fauna. The design also honors the library’s legacy, from its Carnegie origins to the contributions of Elizabeth Oakes Smith, a local author and early women’s rights activist. By weaving these historic roots into a playful, nature-inspired vision, the mural invites adults, children and families to see reading as both a journey and a bridge—linking past to present, individual to community, and imagination to knowledge.”