Library History
Part I: The Chief Librarians

Prof. Charles Pappalardo
York Library Supervisor,
1967-1968
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.
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 Executive 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.
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, College Library Notes, and RQ. 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. George Bailey
Chief Librarian,
1968-1971
George Bailey left York in 1971 and became Associate Director of Libraries for The Claremont Colleges from 1971 until his retirement in 1989. He passed away in July 2018.
After Professor Bailey's departure 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.
Prof. Edward Bradford
Co-Acting Chief Librarian,
1971-1972
See below for information on Co-Acting Chief Librarian Gladys Jarrett.
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.

Dr. Fred Harsaghy
Chief Librarian,
1972-1974
Prof. Gladys Jarrett
Co-Acting Chief Librarian,
1971-1972
Acting Chief Librarian,
1974-1976
Chief Librarian,
1976-1985
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, and served as Chairperson of the CUNY Council of Chief Librarians during 1979-1980. She retired from York College in 1985. You can read a profile of Professor Jarrett in Women of Library History
Professor Jarrett passed away in July 2007.
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. Ben DiRusso
Acting Chief Librarian,
1985-1986
Chief Librarian,
1986-1988
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.
Robert A. Machalow was appointed York's sixth Chief Librarian in 1992 by President Josephine Davis.
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. Kenneth Schlesinger
Acting Chief Librarian,
Feb. 2007-June 2007
After serving as Acting Chief Librarian for 18 months, John A. Drobnicki was appointed by President Marcia Keizs to be York's seventh Chief Librarian, effective Jan. 1, 2009.
Prof. John Drobnicki
Acting Chief Librarian,
2007-2008
Chief Librarian,
2009-2011
Njoki-Wa-Kinyatti was appointed by President Marcia Keizs to be York's eighth Chief Librarian effective Sept. 1, 2011.

Prof. Njoki-Wa-Kinyatti
Chief Librarian,
2011-Present
Part II: The Full-Time Library Faculty
Name | Years of Service | Positions Held |
---|---|---|
Bailey, George M. | 1968-1971 | Chief Librarian |
Barry, J. Kevin | 1974-2001 | Head of Acquisitions; Head of Periodicals & Microforms; Deputy Chief Librarian (twice); Acting Chief Librarian; Chief Librarian |
Bartlett, Judith G. | 1967-1983 | Acquisitions Librarian; Head, Biblio-Searching Unit; Head of Curriculum Materials Center; Head of Serials |
Bradford, J. Edward | 1968-1974 | Head of Technical Processing; Co-Acting Chief Librarian; Acting Head of Acquisitions |
Burg, Jayson H. | 1986-1988 | Evening/Weekend Librarian, Periodicals & Microforms |
Clark, Arnold | 1989-1990 | Substitute Evening/Weekend Librarian |
Cleary, Daniel E. | 2006-2016 | Substitute Reference Librarian; Acting Head of Cataloging; Science Librarian; Head of Serials |
Diao, Junli | 2016-Present | Substitute Head of Cataloging & Serials; Head of Cataloging & Serials; Acting Information Literacy Librarian |
DiRusso, Benedetto | 1967-1991 | Head of Reference; Head of Circulation & Reserve; Deputy Chief Librarian; Acting Chief Librarian; Chief Librarian; Acting Head of Cataloging; Substitute Reference Librarian (1996) |
Drobnicki, John A. | 1995-Present | Evening/Weekend Librarian-in-Charge; Head of Reference; Head of Electronic Resources; Library Webmaster; Acting Chief Librarian; Chief Librarian; Head of Acquisitions & Collection Development; Acting Head of Cataloging |
Dunkley, Joy | 2002-2004 | Head of Circulation & Reserve |
Engel, Kenneth | 1989-1990 | Substitute Evening/Weekend Librarian |
Franco, Marta G. | 1970-1997 | Head of Serials |
Harsaghy, Fred J., Jr. | 1972-1974 | Chief Librarian; Acting Head of Technical Services |
Jarrett, Gladys W. | 1967-1985 | Cataloger; Head of Cataloging; Head of Public Services; Co-Acting Chief Librarian; Acting Chief Librarian; Chief Librarian |
Kinyatti, Njoki-Wa- | 1990-Present | Evening/Weekend Librarian-in-Charge; Head of Circulation & Reserve; Head of Acquisitions & Collection Development; Chief Librarian |
McPhillips, John | 2001-2002 | Evening/Weekend Librarian; Head of Circulation & Reserve |
Machalow, Robert A. | 1982-2014 | Serials Librarian; Head of Curriculum Materials Center; Interlibrary Loan Librarian; Head of Bibliographic Instruction; Systems Librarian; Head of Public Services; Head of Cataloging; Chief Librarian; Head of Circulation & Reserve; Head of Archives |
Maillet, Lucienne | 1970-1975 | Head of Audiovisual Center; Head of Curriculum Materials Center |
Margolis, Michael | 2003-2006 | Evening/Weekend Librarian-in-Charge |
Megwalu, Anamika | 2007-2017 | Evening/Weekend Librarian; Library Webmaster; Coordinator of Electronic Resources; Head of Interlibrary Loan |
Miller, Christina | 2008-2018 | School Library Media Specialist; Head of Reference |
Nash, Madeleine | 1999-2000 | Evening/Weekend Librarian; Head of Circulation & Reserve |
Powers, Meredith | 2017-Present | Coordinator of Electronic Resources |
Pratt, Priscilla | 1986-1987 | Head of Cataloging |
Rakofsky, Larry | 1983-1985 | Evening/Weekend Librarian; Serials Librarian |
Schlesinger, Kenneth | 2007-2007 | Acting Chief Librarian |
Sheidlower, Scott A. | 2004-Present | Evening/Weekend Librarian-in-Charge; Head of Information Literacy; Head of Reference; Acting Head of Cataloging; Head of Archives & Special Collections; Head of Circulation & Reserve |
Simpson, Todd | 2014-Present | Substitute Cataloging Librarian; Head of Cataloging; Coordinator of Academic Works; Coordinator of Electronic Resources; High School Librarian; Head of Reference |
Skir, Holly | 2015-2017 | Substitute Head of Interlibrary Loan |
Soltesz, Kathryn M. | 1968-1978 | Head of Cataloging |
Stiegelbauer, Alyce A. | 1978-1988 | Evening Librarian; Head of Cataloging; Head of Circulation; Head of Public Services; Systems Coordinator; Deputy Chief Librarian |
Su, Di | 1997-Present | Evening/Weekend Librarian-in-Charge; Head of Information Literacy (twice); Head of Circulation & Reserve; Head of Reference; Head of Interlibrary Loan |
Tilyou, Elizabeth M. | 1987-1995 | Reference Librarian; Head of Circulation & Reserve |
Tzanova, Stefka | 2016-Present | Science Librarian; Coordinator of Academic Works; Acting Interlibrary Loan Librarian |
Urban, Sandra G. | 2008-2014 | Head of Cataloging; Acting Head of Reference; Head of Interlibrary Loan |
Winchester, Shiela B. | 1986-1996 | Reference Librarian; Head of Acquisitions; Head of Cataloging; Head of Reference |
Wondolowski, Christine R. | 1986-1988 | Evening/Weekend Librarian-in-Charge, Reference |
Young, Hope E. | 1986-2011 | Reference Librarian; Head of Current Periodicals & Microforms; Head of Interlibrary Loan; Head of Serials |
Part III: The Part-Time Library Faculty
Name | Years of Service | Positions Held |
---|---|---|
Adeshina, Tokunbo | 2015-Present | Adjunct Lecturer, Reference Librarian |
Bissainthe, Max | 1973-1974 | Adjunct Lecturer, Cataloging |
Branner, Shirley P. | 1972-1973 | Adjunct Lecturer, Cataloging |
Callinan, Mary L. | 1973-1974 | Adjunct Lecturer, Cataloging |
Cleary, Daniel E. | 2002-2005 | Adjunct Lecturer, Evening Reference Librarian |
Corson, Cornelia | 1971-1975 | Adjunct Lecturer, Cataloging |
Evans, Thomas | 2013-2013 | Adjunct Lecturer, Reference Librarian |
Fischer, Theodore | 1980-1980 | College Assistant, Evening Librarian |
Fusaro, John | 1973-1975 | Adjunct Lecturer, Evening Reference Librarian |
Gallo, Lory | 1994-1998 | College Assistant, Evening/Weekend Librarian |
Handler, Roberta | 1971-1971 | Adjunct Lecturer |
Hossain, Mahmuda A. | 1999-1999 | College Assistant, Reference Librarian |
Jin, Xudong | 1994-1994 | College Assistant, Reference Librarian |
Karakov, Yelena | 1973-1974 | Adjunct Lecturer, Cataloging |
Krepp, Kenneth | 2006-2016 | Adjunct Assistant Professor, Evening Reference Librarian |
Lal, Shail | 1973-1974 | Adjunct Lecturer, Reference, Periodicals & Microforms |
Liss, Cynthia Rosen | 1972-1975 | Adjunct Lecturer, Head of Circulation |
Lucas, Pamela | 1991-Present | College Assistant, Evening & Weekend Librarian; Adjunct Lecturer, Reference Librarian |
McPhillips, John | 2000-2001 | College Assistant, Evening & Weekend Librarian |
Mahant, Sushma | 1974-1975 | Adjunct Lecturer, Reference & Circulation |
Miller, Christina | 2002-2008 | Adjunct Lecturer, High School Librarian |
Muñoz, Louis, Jr. | 2014-2015 | Adjunct Lecturer, Reference Librarian |
Nielsen, Tom | 2019-Present | Adjunct Lecturer, Reference Librarian |
Palcewski, Barbara | 1972-1973 | Adjunct Lecturer, Acquisitions |
Pappalardo, Charles | 1967-1968 | Adjunct Lecturer, Library Supervisor |
Peach, Joshua | 2018-Present | Adjunct Lecturer, Reference Librarian |
Pollak, Vera | 1972-1974 | Adjunct Lecturer, Cataloging |
Rakofsky, Larry | 1980-1983 | College Assistant, Evening Librarian |
Rene, Jean | 2022-Present | Adjunct Assistant Professor, Evening Librarian |
Schneider, Patricia | 1971-1972 | Adjunct Lecturer, Head of Periodicals & Microforms |
Seif, Morton | 1974-1974 | Adjunct Lecturer, Cataloging |
Simpson, Todd | 2013-2014 | Adjunct Assistant Professor, Reference Librarian |
Skir, Holly | 2014-2015 | Adjunct Lecturer, Reference Librarian |
Solga, Raymond | 2017-2018 | Adjunct Assistant Professor, Reference Librarian |
Sun, Hongyi (Sue) | 1992-1993 | College Assistant, Reference Librarian |
Todman, Anthony | 2015-Present | Adjunct Associate Professor, Evening Reference Librarian |
Trinkoff, Elaine | 1972-1975 | Adjunct Lecturer, Reference & Interlibrary Loan |
Tunney, Deborah | 1991-1992 | College Assistant, Reference Librarian |
Vester, Désirée Yael | 2021-2021 | Adjunct Lecturer, eReserves Librarian |
Willemin, Julia L. | 1971-1971 | Adjunct Lecturer, Cataloging |
Williams, Eke | 2022-Present | Adjunct Lecturer, Reference Librarian |
Zekov, Thomas | 1972-1973; 1975-1977 | College Assistant, Reference Librarian; Adjunct Lecturer, Reference Librarian |