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When York College opened in 1967, it was housed
primarily on the campus of Queensborough Community College, in Bayside,
Queens. York's Library was located in the basement of Queensborough's
Library, and the three original Library faculty members were Professors
Judith Bartlett, Benedetto DiRusso, and Gladys Jarrett. During the first year, the York Library was overseen by Queensborough's Chief Librarian, Professor Charles Pappalardo, who was simultaneously employed by York as an Adjunct Lecturer. For more on the history of the Queensborough Community College Library, you can take their historical virtual tour. |
![]() Prof. Charles Pappalardo Queensborough C.C. Chief Librarian, 1960-1983 York Library Supervisor, 1967-1968 |
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In 1968, York College's first President, Dr.
Dumont Kenny,
recruited and appointed George M. Bailey to become York's first
Chief
Librarian.
Professor Bailey had been Exective Secretary of the Association of
College & Research Libraries (ACRL) from 1963 to 1968, and had
previously
worked in the libraries of Northwestern University, the University of
California at Davis, and the University of California at Berkeley. He
held Master's degrees in History from the University of Pennsylvania,
and in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin. Professor Bailey left York in 1971 and became Associate Director of Libraries for The Claremont Colleges from 1971 until his retirement in 1989. |
![]() Prof. George Bailey Chief Librarian, 1968-1971 |
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After Professor Bailey left York in the Summer
of 1971, Professors J.
Edward
Bradford and Gladys W. Jarrett were designated as Co-Acting
Chief Librarians by York's Acting President David Newton and Dean of
Faculty Lewis Bodi. Professor Bradford had joined the York Library in 1968 as Head of Technical Services. He held Master's degrees in English Literature and Library Science from the University of Oklahoma, and previously worked as Chief of Technical Processing at the Queens Borough Public Library. Professor Bradford left York in 1974. See below for information on Co-Acting Chief Librarian Gladys Jarrett. |
![]() Prof. Edward Bradford Co-Acting Chief Librarian, 1971-1972 |
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In 1972, Fred J. Harsaghy, Jr., was
hired by York College President Milton Bassin to serve as the College's
second Chief Librarian. Professor Harsaghy had previously administered libraries in Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, and Japan. He received a Master's degree in Library Science from Columbia University, and Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Public Administration from New York University. After he left York in 1974, Dr. Harsaghy taught at the University of New Haven and in the Danbury, Connecticut, public school system. He passed away in 1996. Click for a 1973 interview with Dr. Harsaghy. |
![]() Dr. Fred Harsaghy Chief Librarian, 1972-1974 |
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After again serving as Acting Chief Librarian, Gladys
W. Jarrett was appointed
by President Bassin in February 1976 to be York College's third Chief
Librarian. Professor Jarrett was one of York's original faculty members, having started in the Library in 1967, working in Cataloging and then as Head of Public Services. It is very likely that Professor Jarrett was the first African-American woman to be a Chief Librarian in The City University of New York system. Professor Jarrett had previously worked at Pace University and the Brooklyn Public Library. She held Master's Degrees in Spanish from Teachers College of Columbia University, and in Library Science from Pratt Institute. Prof. Jarrett was elected President of LACUNY (the Library Association of the City University of New York) for 1972-1973. She retired from York College in 1985. Professor Jarrett passed away in July 2007. |
![]() Prof. Gladys Jarrett Co-Acting Chief Librarian, 1971-1972 Acting Chief Librarian, 1974-1976 Chief Librarian, 1976-1985 |
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Benedetto DiRusso was appointed York's
fourth Chief
Librarian by President Bassin in
1986, after having served as Acting Chief Librarian for a
year. Professor DiRusso was an original York faculty member, having started in the Library in 1967, working in Public Services and then as Deputy Chief Librarian. He previously worked as science librarian at St. John’s University, and also at the Brooklyn Public Library. Professor DiRusso received Master's degrees in Library Science from Pratt Institute, and in Business Administration from St. John's University. He served as Treasurer of LACUNY (the Library Association of the City University of New York) during 1975-1976. Professor DiRusso stepped down as Chief Librarian in 1988, and retired in 1990. |
![]() Prof. Ben DiRusso Acting Chief Librarian, 1985-1986 Chief Librarian, 1986-1988 |
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After serving as Acting Chief Librarian for a
year, J. Kevin Barry was appointed York's fifth Chief Librarian
by President Bassin in 1989. Professor Barry had joined the York College Library faculty in 1974 as Acquisitions Librarian, and previously worked at Northeastern University. He held Master's degrees in English Literature from Drew University, and in Library Science from Simmons College. Professor Barry became York's Deputy Chief Librarian in 1992, and held that position until his retirement in 2001. He also served the faculty as Grievance Officer and then Chapter Chair of the York College Chapter of the Professional Staff Congress (PSC), the CUNY faculty union. |
![]() Prof. Kevin Barry Acting Chief Librarian, 1988-1989 Chief Librarian, 1989-1992 |
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Robert A. Machalow was appointed York's
sixth Chief Librarian in 1992 by President Josephine Davis. Professor Machalow had joined the York College Library faculty in 1982, working as the Curriculum Materials Center Librarian, Interlibrary Loan Librarian, Bibliographic Instruction Librarian, and Systems Librarian. He received a Master's degree in English Literature from Indiana University, and in Library Science from Rutgers University. |
![]() Prof. Robert Machalow Chief Librarian, 1992-2007 |
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Kenneth Schlesinger
was appointed by
President Marcia Keizs to be York's Acting
Chief Librarian
on Feb. 1, 2007. Professor
Schlesinger had been Director of Media Services at LaGuardia Community
College since 2000. Previously, he worked in both libraries and
archives at Hostos Community College, Thirteen/WNET, Time Inc., the
Museum of Television & Radio, NBC News, and the Kurt Weill
Foundation for Music.
He received a Master's degree in Information and Library Science from
Pratt Institute,
and an M.F.A. in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism from Yale
University. He left York at the end of June to become Chief Librarian
at Lehman College. |
![]() Prof. Kenneth Schlesinger Acting Chief Librarian, Feb. 2007-June 2007 |
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John A. Drobnicki was appointed by
President Marcia Keizs to be York's Acting
Chief Librarian
on July 2, 2007. Professor Drobnicki had joined the York
College Library faculty in 1995, starting as the Evening & Weekend
Librarian-in-Charge, and then becoming Head of Reference Services,
Library Webmaster, and
Electronic Resources Librarian.
He received a Master's degree in History from St. John's
University, and in Library Science from Queens College/CUNY. He has
published articles and book reviews on both library-related and
historical topics. |
![]() Prof. John Drobnicki Acting Chief Librarian, July 2007-Present |
HTML: John
A.
Drobnicki
Last modified: July 30, 2008.
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