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Libraries

My First Year As A Local History Librarian

December 20, 2015 by Ben Himmelfarb 5 Comments

2015-12-12-ScannersIn mid-October, I marked my first anniversary as the “local history librarian” at the White Plains Public Library. Four years earlier, I was a library clerk at an urban public library trying to figure out how to make a job out of my seemingly varied interests. I liked direct service, helping people, but I also valued more solitary, research driven work. I knew Intellectual freedom and a progressive, supportive community were a necessary part of any job I might hold, but I did not want to obtain a PhD or set out on my own for the wilds of self-employment. I knew I loved education, but I didn’t want to be a teacher. So the world has another librarian.

Through a friend, I began working at Albany Public Library as a Library Clerk and found the public library united my passions for working with people and knowledge in a democratic, autonomous space. Librarians can be educators without being constricted by the bureaucracy that comes with teaching. Librarians can also be historians, but don’t have to work within the traditional academic or museum systems, where publishing requirements or institutional obligations can take up lots of time. Attracted as I am to intellectual autonomy and the propagation of alternative historical voices, working as a local history librarian looked like a perfect opportunity to see if I could manifest some of these values. [Read more…] about My First Year As A Local History Librarian

Filed Under: History, Hudson Valley - Catskills Tagged With: Libraries, Oral History, Public History, Westchester County, White Plains

Does Your Community Have A Literary Landmark?

June 2, 2015 by Rocco Staino 2 Comments

Empire State Center for the Book Literary LandmarksHotels, bars, a lighthouse and a windmill are just some of the sites in New York State that have been declared Literary Landmarks by United for Libraries (formerly known as Friends of Libraries USA). The literary landmark program began in 1986 to encourage the dedication of historic literary sites.

The first literary landmark to be designated in New York was The Algonquin Hotel in 1996, home of the legendary Algonquin Roundtable  There are currently 15 landmarks in New York State with two more planned in the near future.  The Wilder Homestead in Malone, NY was made famous by Laura Ingalls Wilder in her book Farmer Boy will be dedicated this summer and The Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage in Saranac Lake , NY will receive its designation this fall. [Read more…] about Does Your Community Have A Literary Landmark?

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Cultural History, Empire State Center for the Book, Libraries, Literary Landmarks, Literature

A NY Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer

March 7, 2015 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

NY Research Guide front coverThe New York Genealogical and Biographical Society has published the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer (2015), a comprehensive, 856-page reference book for researchers of not just genealogy, but any type of history in the State of New York.

The book massive volume, considered unprecedented in its breadth and depth, covers New York State records for all the major ethnic and religious groups, and each county. [Read more…] about A NY Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer

Filed Under: Books, History Tagged With: Archives, Genealogy, Libraries, New York Genealogical and Biographical Society

2015 Preservation Week Begins April 26

March 2, 2015 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Preservation Week 2015New York Times best-selling author, television host and library advocate Brad Meltzer will serve as 2015 Honorary Chair of Preservation Week, April 26 – May 2, 2015, a time when libraries throughout the country will provide information and expertise on how to archive and preserve individual and institutional treasures.

During Preservation Week, themed “Pass it on,” participating libraries will offer special programs and services to help connect library users with preservation tools; promote the importance of preservation; and enhance knowledge of preservation issues among the general public. [Read more…] about 2015 Preservation Week Begins April 26

Filed Under: Events, History Tagged With: Advocacy, Archives, Libraries, Preservation Week, Public History

Lecture: NYC Carnegie and Branch Libraries History

October 21, 2014 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Untitled1The Historic District Council of New York City will present a lecture, “The History and Endurance of New York City’s Carnegie and Branch Libraries”, by Dr. Jeffrey Kroessler on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at 5:30 pm at the Yorkville Branch of the New York Public Library (the first Carnegie Library built in New York City), 222 East 79th Street (between Second & Third Avenues).

In 1899, industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated the funds which would build 67 architecturally distinctive libraries in the five boroughs between 1901 and 1923. These buildings, of which 54 still function today as libraries, have been community landmarks ever since. Together with the more recently built branch libraries, and the famous main branches, they make up the three library systems that serve the dynamic population of New York City. [Read more…] about Lecture: NYC Carnegie and Branch Libraries History

Filed Under: Events, History Tagged With: Historic Districts Council, Libraries, Manhattan, New York City, New York Public Library, NYC

Columbia Announces Library Research Award Funds

January 24, 2014 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

a columbia university libraryThe Columbia University Libraries (CUL) invites applications from scholars and researchers to a new program designed to facilitate access to Columbia’s special and unique collections.

CUL will award ten (10) grants of $2,500 each on a competitive basis to researchers who can demonstrate a compelling need to consult CUL holdings for their work.  Participating Columbia libraries and collections include those located on the Morningside Heights campus: the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Butler Library, the Lehman Social Sciences Library, the Rare Book & Manuscript Library, the C. V. Starr East Asian Library, and the Libraries’ Global Studies Collections. [Read more…] about Columbia Announces Library Research Award Funds

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Academia, Columbia University, Grants, Libraries

NYS Library Clearing Thousands of Items From Stacks

January 21, 2014 by John Warren 14 Comments

TU StoryPaul Grondahl at the Albany Times Union is reporting that the New York State Library is rapidly discarding tens of thousands of items in the stacks of the old State Library beneath the State Education Building.

State Librarian Bernard Margolis, who is overseeing the reduction of the stacks, blames years of State Library budget cuts and an increase in state Education Department paperwork.  Opposition from State Library employees, who remain anonymous out of fear for their jobs, has gone unheeded.

Here are some of the details from Paul Grondahl: [Read more…] about NYS Library Clearing Thousands of Items From Stacks

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Libraries, New York State Education Department, New York State Library, Office of Cultural Education, Public History

NY Libraries Joining Digital Public Library of America

November 4, 2013 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

indexThe Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) announced the addition of three new Service Hubs  – Empire State Digital Network (New York), The Portal to Texas History (Texas), and the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center (North Carolina) – that are expected to bring hundreds of thousands of new digital materials into the DPLA collections in the coming weeks and months. [Read more…] about NY Libraries Joining Digital Public Library of America

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Brooklyn Public Library, Digital Public Library of America, Hudson River Valle Heritage, Libraries, Museum of Modern Art, New York Heritage, Online Resources, Public History

The Hillary Clinton Presidential Library:
Where Would You Build It?

October 1, 2013 by Peter Feinman 24 Comments

hillaryrushmoreThis summer New York Times op-ed columnist Frank Bruni wrote: “NBC recently announced plans for a mini-series about Hillary Clinton, whose current exaltation seems bound to end with her visage on Mount Rushmore. The network would do as well to consider a docudrama devoted to Weiner.”

While there is no doubt that her presidential campaign train has left the station (soon to approach warp speed), his mention of Mount Rushmore got me thinking. The well-known dictum: “If you build it they will come” is the goal of visitor centers at all tourist sites. But where would you build it? Where should her presidential library be? [Read more…] about The Hillary Clinton Presidential Library:
Where Would You Build It?

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Education, Libraries, Political History, Tourism

Campaign to Preserve NYC Carnegie Libraries Launched

June 25, 2013 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

image002(2)This year the Historic Districts Council launched a new campaign to combat the potential loss of historic community libraries. The campaign is expected to lead to the nomination of all the New York City Carnegie Libraries to the New York State and National Register of Historic Places. [Read more…] about Campaign to Preserve NYC Carnegie Libraries Launched

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Architecture, Historic Districts Council, Historic Preservation, Libraries, NYC

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