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"Remembering Rockefeller: A First Hand Account"

Please join us as we welcome historian and biographer Joseph E. Persico to the State Library. Mr. Persico will discuss New York governor and U.S. vice president Nelson A. Rockefeller, in celebration of Rockefeller's 100th birthday.

Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Time: 12:15-1:15pm

Where: State Library, Librarians Room

Cost: Free

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State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries Janet Martin Welch is retiring in Spring 2008. She has requested that any donations made in her honor be designated for the Friends of the New York State Library's project to raise matching funds for the Save America's Treasures grant to preserve the State Library's Van Rensselaer Manor Papers collection. Click on the image below to see the brochure describing this effort and to find out how you can help.

Please send your donations to Friends of the New York State Library, P.O. Box 2247 Empire State Plaza Station, Albany, NY 12220.

Visitors to this web site will find a wealth of information about The Friends, including news, bylaws, membership benefits and applications, an electronic archive of the State Library's newsletter, and an online store!

News

Friends Held Annual Meeting, Elections on March 17, 2008

On Saint Patrick's Day, Monday March 17, 2008 the Friends of the New York State Library co-sponsored with the Writers Institute a talk by the authors of How the Irish Invented Slang: (The Secret Language of the Crossorads). Authors Daniel Cassidy and Peter Quinn discussed their book at 8 PM in the Clark Auditorium of the Cultural Education Center (CEC) on Madison Avenue. The talk was preceded by music from librarian Paul Mercer and his bride at 7:30 P.M. Refreshments were served.

Arden Leach and Jean Burns were re-elected to two year terms as Governing Board Members. Their terms expire on March 31, 2010

Friends Elect Board

Jane Schneider, Clesson Bush, and Joseph F. Shubert were re-elected President, Vice President, and Secretary of the Friends at the annual meeting on March 20, 2007. Mary Redmond was elected Treasurer. They will serve until March 31, 2009. Jean Burns and Arden Leach, now in the second year of their two-year terms as Governing Board members, will continue until March 31, 2008. Barbara Mladinov was elected a board member.

Report: Spring Trip to Schoharie! By Jean G. Burns

          The Spring “jaunt” for thirty Friends of the NY State Library on May 7^th into the Schoharie Valley was a memorable event. The perfect spring day could not have been more beautiful. Even the bus ride was relaxing with beautiful views all around and a very careful and friendly driver behind the wheel. Timing for the stops proved to be excellent and participants had adequate time for each location visited.

            First stop was the Middleburgh Public Library and the historic Dr. Christopher S. Best Home. Members of the Board and volunteers were on hand to greet us and answer every question. The new library is beautiful and will soon be open most days of the week. Of particular note is their historical room which was highly rated by one of our very knowledgeable Friends’ board members. Also the Best home is unique and a remarkable repository of medical artifacts of the early 20^th century.

            The Schoharie Free Library was the second stop for the capacity tour group. Here, too, members of their Board and volunteers met us and welcomed us most warmly. This stately Victorian mansion has been beautifully restored and cleverly expanded to serve the needs of its users in the 21^st century. A charming cupola rises from the rood of the new addition and illuminates the interior with natural light. Shelving has been so tastefully melded into the historic three-story mansion that a feeling of coziness has been retained throughout. Hours are Monday through Saturday.

            Third stop was the Old Stone Fort Museum complex. Here there was so much to see and experience. The fort contains three hundred years of history and was a significant site during the American Revolutionary War. Curator Dan Beans and volunteer Jeff O’Connor, who had spoken at the NYS Library on May 2, were dressed in colonial uniforms and led the group in tours of the fort and historical buildings on the grounds. Genealogist Martha Foland and others were on hand in the library and assisted anyone who was interested in locating information from the library’s holdings. The fort is open May 1 through October.

            The final destination was the historic 18^th century George Mann (Tory) Tavern, a short distance from the fort. Heartier souls hiked across the covered bridge spanning Fox’s Creek to the tavern. After posing for a group picture on the steps of the restaurant, the group dined by candlelight on a sumptuous meal of their choice. Wait staff dressed in colonial costume gave attentive service to the diners who had the entire historic tavern area on the ground floor for their exclusive use. The leisurely dinner after a very full afternoon of activity enabled tour members time to get acquainted with new and old friends. Our exceptional driver returned the Friends’ group to the East Parking lot about eight-thirty in the evening.

            Members of the Friends of the New York State Library receive notification of any activities and lectures sponsored by the group as well as other important incentives for membership.

Friends Annual Meeting

Members of The Friends, and other people in attendance, were treated to music by State Library senior librarian Paul Mercer and his wife, Joan Kosby. The program began around 8:00 p.m. with remarks from Don Faulkner, Director of the New York State Writers Institute and Professor of English at the University at Albany, and Loretta Ebert, Director of the New York State Library.

On March 28, 2006, the Friends held their annual meeting, in the Clark Auditorium at the Cultural Education Center in downtown Albany, and hosted Pulitzer Prize winning author Taylor Branch. Mr. Branch spoke at length about his latest offering, At Canaan's Edge: American in the King Years, 1965-68, the last in a three volume set that chronicles the life and times of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

April 1, 2006

Photo credits: Tom Rocco, New York State Library

Last modified on April 4, 2008
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