TMCnet News
State Librarian checks out from Boston: Margolis, credited for fighting censorship, will oversee State Library(Times Union (Albany, NY) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jan. 24--ALBANY -- Bernard A. Margolis is likely the first State Librarian who roller-skated his way to a library career. He helped pay college tuition in the late-1960s by skating along 13 miles of stacks, re-shelving books in the subterranean vaults of the Denver Public Library for $1.25 an hour. On slow nights, he read class assignments as he rolled along. "I guess it was that era's equivalent of driving and text-messaging," recalled Margolis, 60, who begins his new job after 11 years as president of the Boston Public Library, the nation's oldest. He was ousted in June after a political dust-up with Mayor Thomas M. Menino. Margolis defied the mayor's order to filter Internet content on the library's public computers after concerns were raised that patrons, including teenagers, could view pornographic sites. The two men also fought over library funding, how much to focus on technology improvements and expansions at branch libraries. "Conflicts between library directors and mayors in Boston go back to 1878," he said. "History repeats itself every 20 years or so. Unfortunately, my timing was bad." The denouement of their long-running battles came when Margolis likened Menino to a dictator and denounced the mayor's "anti-intellectual bent." As his wife, Amanda Batey, a historian and a Southerner by birth, puts it: "Bernie would not be weak tea." The couple is trying to sell their house in West Roxbury, Mass. They're renting locally while looking for a place within walking distance of the Empire State Plaza. Keith Michael Fiels, executive director of the 67,000-member American Library Association, said Margolis has earned "a great deal of respect throughout the profession" and called him one of ALA's most active members in standing up to censorship. Margolis, who grew up in Queens and New Rochelle, credits his activism to his dad, who was a fundraiser for the Anti-Defamation League. He calls reading the New Yorker magazine "part of my religious practice." "We're eager to put Bernie's skills and energy to use here," said Jeffrey Cannell, Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education, who was acting State Librarian during a national search. He likened the Margolis move to the Red Sox trading Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Margolis faces mounting challenges at the State Library when deep cuts are being made to deal with the state budget deficit. Its funding stream also is tied to real estate closing fees, which have been hit hard by the subprime mortgage crisis and a drop in home sales. He'll oversee one of the nation's largest research libraries and direct 180 employees, a $13.4 million budget and notable rare manuscript collections among its 20 million items. He disburses nearly $100 million in state and federal aid to the state's 7,000 libraries. The job carries a $146,927 salary. He earned $167,000 in Boston, where he was in charge of 550 employees and a 34-million-item collection. "I'm very excited to get started," Margolis said. "I want to bring the libraries of the Empire State back to the top of the empire again." He replaces Janet Welch, the first female State Librarian, who retired in June at age 63 after 11 years. Margolis earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in librarianship, both at the University of Denver. He is credited with extending branch library hours in Boston, creating local history centers in the branches and increasing grants, donations and federal funding. He hopes to repeat those successes in Albany, including restoring Saturday hours at the State Library. He also will review security of its valuable artifacts following an October sentencing of State Archivist Daniel Lorello to 2 to 6 years in prison for stealing hundreds of historical documents and photographs in the State Library that he sold on eBay. Margolis is optimistic after participating in discussions between ALA representatives and President-elect Barack Obama's transition team. The ALA asked for $1.2 billion from the stimulus package, which would be distributed by states for new construction and a range of enhancements, such as increasing high-speed Internet access at libraries. "We want to ensure that libraries thrive because everyone is enriched by them," he said. Paul Grondahl can be reached at 454-5623 or by e-mail at [email protected]. To see more of the Albany Times Union, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.timesunion.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Albany Times Union, N.Y. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |