Syntychia Kendrick-Samuel is a native of the Village of Freeport (North side) and is currently a proud resident of the Village of Hempstead. She holds a Master’s Degree in Library Science (CUNY Queens College), Post Masters Certificates in Public Library Administration (LIU C.W. Post) and a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector-Labor and Employment Policy (SUNY Empire State College) has been a licensed New York State Public Librarian for 19 years. Her professional tenure has been in service to the Uniondale Community, where she created a stand-alone robust Teen dept. in 2013. In 2016 her innovative work with the teen population resulted in her being named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker. She’s written essays and articles that have been published in both professional and scholarly journals and books. She's a firm believer in socially conscious librarianship with the goal of lifting up her community and she's also a self-styled "professional hustler" who constantly thinks outside the box and works with her community to promote and ensure successful library programs. In 2021 she was promoted Assistant Director.

Outside of work, she’s a wife of a U.S. Army Veteran, mother of three and does her best to liveby her faith. She’s passionate about organic gardening, her extensive home garden has its own Instagram page. She also teaches teens how to garden using one of the raised garden beds located at Uniondale Public Library.

Personal Social Media Handles: Twitter: @sobenyree, Instagram: sobenyree, Instagram: Samuel_family_garden Uniondale Public Library Social Media Handles: Twitter: @UPL_Library; Instagram: Uniondale Library; Facebook: Uniondale Public Library; YouTube: @uniondalelibraryYT or Uniondale Library