For the first time in 34 years, the humanities and social sciences library will be open on Sundays, said David S. Ferriero, who recently began as Andrew W. Mellon director and chief executive of the research libraries. Restored support from the city will also help fund a total of 69 additional hours per week at 39 of its 85 neighborhood branches in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island, and, provided the city makes no mid-year budget adjustments, a sixth day of service will be added at 14 branches early next year.
The library also announced its largest-ever single donation—$25 million—from philanthropist Robert W. Wilson, who since 1966 has given the library a total of $39 million. In addition, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has given $5 million to NYPL’s research libraries to protect core programs, including acquisitions, preservation, and technology.
Also November 17, the board of trustees named Catherine C. Marron as its new chair, an action that followed several other senior staff appointments this fall, including Ferriero and Susan Kent, the new director and chief executive of branch libraries. The new leadership says one of its primary goals is to better integrate the system’s branches and its four research libraries.
Posted November 19, 2004.