City, booktv visited the New York Public Library where we thought what the librarys president and ceo, it anthony marx about the history of the institution as well as its Current Operations and future. Host tony marx, lets start with some numbers. How big is the New York Public Library . How many employees, budget, et cetera . Guest the New York Public Library circulates the largest in america. 88 branches in every neighborhood diversely serve as well as for Important Research libraries, this one being the crown jewel at the center of the system, but also the Schaumburg Center in harlem, library for performing arts at Lincoln Center and science industry and is this library. We have about 2100 employees. We have a budget of about 280 million a year operating about half comes from the city of new york, largely to pay for the circulating Library System in all the neighborhoods. The other half comes from return on the billion dollars endowment of the private foundation that employs me, the
Is that there is a difference between someone recommending something and someone reviewing something. And this is one of my bug bears as a book reviewer. A proper review will tell you about something fully. It isnt necessarily saying just i loved it or i hated it. Its actually telling you something about the book thats meaningful, and theres a takeaway in it. But amazon, it calls them all reviews. I wish they would call them amazon recommendations. That would be so much more accurate because thats really there are not, im sure, sir, that your, you know, are really well written, and there are people who write, who take the time to write reviews on amazon, but those are few and far between. Yeah. I agree with everything you just said. [laughter] so i guess the general feeling is, chime in, take it with a grain of salt. Like everything. Yeah. You know, i sort of feel the if you want to buy a book, you dont necessarily not buy it because you read a bad review. I wouldnt buy everything you
This is true because of the incredible success the Broadband Program has had across the country here and at the Brooklyn Library amazing things. Making Great Strides and addressing the digital skill divide. Many of us are wondering where the additional funding is going to come from . I should take a moment on the Digital Literacy spectrum to talk about the room we are sitting. This is a digital commons. It provides us through an increasingly sophisticated set of tools, faster connectivity. It cost around 34 million and how can we build more because we know the need is there. I am hoping the panel will talk about this. It is my pleasure to introduce the director of Library Services. Susan has done so much in her tenure to elevate libraries in the consciousness and we owe her gratitude and will be sorry to see her go. Susan, please, thank you. [ applause ] i would ask our gentlemen, the two toms if you dont mind joining me on the stage. Good morning, everyone. Well it is so wonderful to
And if they really protect you. Plus to the rescue. One of the remarkable efforts to save the earths most endangered species. Theres no mistake tonight that iraq is in the throes of a civil war. The violence brutal and bar ba barbaric, the world is watching. The white house is watching and tonight, president obama is taking steps to safeguard americans at the u. S. Embassy in baghdad. Ordering 750 troops back ting baghdad. And talking with a foe, iran, on how to deal with this quickly unfolding crisis. Mike viqueria reports. The crisis has come to this secretary of state john kerry says the country is willing to work with iran to turn back rebel gains in iraq. I think we are open to any constructive process here that could minimize the violence, hold iraq together, the integrity of the country, and eliminate the presence of outside terrorist forces, that are ripping it apart. For now, that does not include military cooperation with iran. This as the pentagon sends more war ships to the
Audience to pose questions. Here we go with our panel number one. We are looking at the vision. We will explore innovative practices and partnerships. Our first speaker will be the Senior Program officer at the bill and Melinda Gates foundation. Hoping to have leon mac, director of el paso Public Library. Unfortunately she had a family emergency and was not able to the year. We are excited to have clarence anthony, executive director of the National League of cities. We will start out with her. Well, thank you, director. The national museum, Library Services for holding this hearing. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about the experience that the bill and ellen Gates Foundation has had with in china access to technology through Public Libraries and our vision of our libraries can drive personal and Community Development. Today the foundation is composed of many programs and initiatives. Helping farmers in africa strengthen their crops, improving the educational system in the United