Library History

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 that first year, Professor Charles Pappalardo (Queensborough's Chief Librarian, 1960-1983) was simultaneously employed by York as an Adjunct Lecturer and oversaw the York Library. Professor Pappalardo passed away in April 2015.

Professor Bailey held Master's degrees in History from the University of Pennsylvania and in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin.  Among his publications were articles published in Illinois Libraries, Drexel Library Quarterly, Rice University Studies, and College Library Notes.  In his work with ALA's Cooperative Reference Services Committee, he compiled Directory of Cooperative Reference Service Programs: A Preliminary Edition (Chicago: American Library Association, 1972). He served as Secretary of the CUNY Council of Chief Librarians during 1970-1971.

Prof. Edward Bradford
Co-Acting Chief Librarian,
1971-1972

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, Harsaghy taught at the University of New Haven and in the Danbury, Connecticut, public school system, and passed away in 1996.  Among his publications were articles in College and Research Libraries, Special Libraries, and Wilson Library Bulletin.

You can read a 1973 interview with Dr. Harsaghy from Pandora's Box.

Prof. Gladys Jarrett
Co-Acting Chief Librarian,
1971-1972
Acting Chief Librarian,
1974-1976
Chief Librarian,
1976-1985

Benedetto DiRusso was appointed York's fourth Chief Librarian by President Milton 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. The editor of several subject bibliographies that were compiled by York librarians, including The American Indian, Then and Now, Professor DiRusso also contributed articles on Albert Claude and Emilio Segrè to the Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives. He served as Treasurer of LACUNY (the Library Association of the City University of New York) during 1975-1976. He stepped down as Chief Librarian in 1988, and retired in 1991.

Professor DiRusso passed away in June 2010.

Prof. Kevin Barry
Acting Chief Librarian,
1988-1989
Chief Librarian,
1989-1992

After serving as Acting Chief Librarian for a year, J. Kevin Barry was appointed York's fifth Chief Librarian by President Milton Bassin in 1989.

Professor Barry began in the York College Library 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. Robert Machalow
Chief Librarian,
1992-2007

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 2007 to become the Chief Librarian at CUNY's Lehman College.

Prof. John Drobnicki
Acting Chief Librarian,
2007-2008
Chief Librarian,
2009-2011