New York State Library Announces February Public Programs

The New York State Library announces its upcoming programming for February, including webinars and events related to history and genealogical services. The following upcoming free programming requires registration and is available in person or offered online, as indicated per each listing.

Library Display: Understanding Lincoln through Primary Source Documents
February 1 – 29, 2024
7th Floor – New York State Library

During February, the State Library’s display cases will feature selected books and primary source documents from the Library’s collections on Abraham Lincoln and the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. Topics of the exhibit will include Lincoln’s life, the writing of the proclamation, how the State Library came to have the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, and Lincoln’s death.

Onsite Walking Tour of the Local History and Genealogy Resources at the New York State Library
Friday, February 2, 2024
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

The New York State Library is a treasure chest of resources for those tracing their family histories. Join us for an onsite tour highlighting published genealogies, local histories, church records, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) records, United States and New York State Census records, newspapers on microfilm, city directories, and more. Associate Librarian Cara Janowsky and Senior Librarian Jane Bentley will lead the tour. 

Register for Onsite Walking Tour of the Local History and Genealogy Resources at the New York State Library

Historical Newspaper Databases Available at the New York State Library
Thursday, February 8, 2024
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Newspapers can serve as useful primary sources for historical research. They reflect the time period in which they were created and provide a glimpse into society at the time. Senior Librarians Stephanie Barrett and Jane Bentley will discuss online databases available at the New York State Library that contain full-text historical newspapers. They will demonstrate the effective use of America's Historical Newspapers and the New York Times online databases with an emphasis on newspapers published in New York State. They will also demonstrate how to find and access New York State digital newspapers freely available on the Internet.

Register for Historical Newspaper Databases Available at the New York State Library

Lincoln, the Founding, and an America Worth Saving (Webinar)
Thursday, February 15, 2024
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

The most important influence on Abraham Lincoln’s political thought and practice was what he learned from the leading figures and especially founding documents of the birth of the United States. From George Washington, the indispensable Founding Father, to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, Lincoln learned about the promise and challenges of American self-government. He also drew from the Founding Fathers’ compromise over slavery to address the growing political divide of his time over the future of slavery in the United States. Without the ideals of the American Revolution, Lincoln’s most famous speeches would be unrecognizable, and the character of the nation would have lost its foundation on the universal principles of human equality, individual rights, and government by the consent of the governed. In understanding Lincoln, we understand the essential principles and structures of American self-government, as well as what is required of a free people to maintain their republican way of life. By reminding the nation of its noblest ideals, Lincoln hoped that “the better angels of our nature’ would heal the divided country and preserve “the last best hope of earth.”

Lucas Morel is the John K. Boardman, Jr. Professor of Politics and Head of the Politics Department at Washington and Lee University. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from Claremont Graduate University. He is a former president of the Abraham Lincoln Institute; a founding member of the Academic Freedom Alliance; a trustee of the Supreme Court Historical Society; a consultant for the Library of Congress and National Archives; and currently serves on the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, which will plan activities to commemorate the founding of the United States of America.

Register for Lincoln, the Founding, and an America Worth Saving

“A Dreamer With A Tiny Spark:” E.J. Josey Transforms the Modern Library Profession (Webinar)
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

E.J. Josey rose to prominence in the library profession by compelling the American Library Association (ALA) to live up to its creed of equality for all. During his professional career, spanning over fifty years (1952-2002), Josey worked as a librarian (1953-1966), an administrator of library services (1966-1986), and as a professor of library science (1986-1995). He also served as President of the American Library Association and, perhaps his most notable achievement, he successfully drafted a resolution that prevented state library associations from discriminating against Black librarians. Josey’s transformative leadership provides a model to tackle today’s civil rights challenges both in and outside the library profession.

Renate Chancellor is Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility for the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University. She received her master’s and Ph.D. in Information Studies from UCLA.

Register for “A Dreamer With A Tiny Spark:” E.J. Josey Transforms the Modern Library Profession

Genealogy Research with Ancestry Library Edition
Thursday, February 22, 2024
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Senior Librarians Stephanie Barrett and Jane Bentley will demonstrate the Ancestry Library online database, which is accessible at the New York State Library. Learn how to access Census records, genealogy and history books, maps, and other resources included in this database, as well as the resources on Ancestry New York State page which are freely available to all New Yorkers. This class also will include search tips and strategies, how to save records, printing, and how to create a family tree via Ancestry.

Register for Genealogy Research with Ancestry Library Edition

Onsite Walking Tour of the Local History and Genealogy Resources at the New York State Library
Friday, February 23, 2024
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

The New York State Library is a treasure chest of resources for those tracing their family histories. Join us for an onsite tour highlighting published genealogies, local histories, church records, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) records, United States and New York State Census records, newspapers on microfilm, city directories and more. Associate Librarian Cara Janowsky and Senior Librarian Jane Bentley will lead the tour.

Register for Onsite Walking Tour of the Local History and Genealogy Resources at the New York State Library

Tasting History @ Your Library (Webinar)
Thursday, February 29, 2024
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Senior Librarian in the New York State Library’s Manuscripts and Special Collections unit, Elizabeth Jakubowski, will share the story of the State Library’s ongoing Tasting History project. She will review the creation of the project, the eras of history the project has covered, and highlight recipes from each era. Using Tasting History as a blueprint, Jakubowski will provide examples of programming ideas for ALL age groups, which can be used as given or as a starting point for further creativity for library programs. Your culinary adventure awaits! This webinar will be recorded. For more information, please contact Sharon Phillips, Youth Services Program Manager. This webinar is supported in large part by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds that were awarded to the New York State Library by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Register for Tasting History @ Your Library

Visit the State Library's website for a complete list of upcoming programs, including webinars, events, and onsite genealogy walking tours. Additional programs will be added to the website as they are confirmed. If any reasonable accommodation is needed (complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act), contact the Office of Cultural Education at least three business days before the program date by emailing NYSLTRN@nysed.gov or calling (518) 474-2274. 

The New York State Library is part of the Office of Cultural Education within the New York State Education Department and celebrated its bicentennial in 2018. The Library serves the following three major constituencies. The Regent Joseph E. Bowman Jr. Research Library, established by law in 1818, collects, preserves, and makes available materials that support State government work. The Library's collections, now numbering over 20 million items, may also be used by other researchers onsite, online, and via interlibrary loan. The Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) lends braille, audiobooks, magazines, and special playback equipment to residents of the 55 upstate counties of New York State who cannot read printed materials because of a visual or physical disability. The Division of Library Development works in partnership with 72 library systems to bring library services to millions of people who use New York's academic, public, school, and special libraries. Library Development also administers State and Federal grant programs that provide aid for library services.