CSEA DONATES HISTORY BOOKS TO ROCHESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY

Rochester, N.Y.-- New York's libraries are playing a vital role in the nation's economic recovery and like never before, libraries are achieving record attendance and usage rates. And, the 2011 celebration of National Library Workers Week during mid-April provided an opportunity for all New Yorkers to examine our communities' priorities and values.

On April 27, CSEA WNY Region president Flo Tripi and City of Rochester Library Workers Unit president Ove Overmyer presented 12 donated copies of the hardbound book titled, "A Century of Service: The Story of CSEA's First 100 Years" to the Rochester Public Library Board of Trustees and RPL library administrators at their regularly scheduled monthly meeting at the Rundel Memorial Library Building in downtown Rochester.

CSEA was founded on Oct. 24, 1910 in the New York State Capital when a small group of state employees came together to stand up against political patronage and promote merit and fitness in state employment. Ironically, Rochester Public Library is also celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

As the history book illustrates, CSEA was the first formal organization of state employees. Today, CSEA represents nearly 300,000 members in every part of New York in the public and private sector, including 70 library settings throughout the Empire State.  WAMC Northeast Public Radio recently aired an hour long interview about CSEA's history, just one of the many places where the recent publication about CSEA's centennial has generated positive response.  You can go here to listen to the program. 

Central Library of Rochester
and Monroe County
photo:  Ove Overmyer

There are more than 165 CSEA represented employees who work at eleven different branch libraries in twelve buildings throughout the City of Rochester.

At the RPL Board of Trustees presentation, Tripi said, "During these hard economic times, when our governor and state legislators choose to severely cut our school and library budgets, we need more than ever to remind ourselves of the importance of our libraries and the role they play in our local communities. CSEA and the Rochester Public Library have a shared common experience that extends well beyond a century of service-- these history books are a gift from our workers to our community."

left to right:  City of Rochester Library Workers Unit President Ove Overmyer,
WNY Region President Flo Tripi and RPL Board President Sharon Orienter.
photo:  Patricia Uttaro