Plattsburgh, NY, Dec 24, 2012 — A former librarian at SUNY Plattsburgh has donated nearly half a million dollars to the school -- the second largest gift in the school's history.

Phyllis Wells passed away last January at the age of 82. She was a graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh and worked at the college as a librarian until her retirement in 1987.

College president John Ettling said in a statement that the gift will go to a scholarship fund that will help students, who he says "need financial support more than ever."

Some of the gift will also go to help preserve archival materials relating to North Country history.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Nov 20, 2012 — Part of an exhibition of Rockwell Kent's work at St. Lawrence University explores his literary side. Kent was one of America's most famous 20th century artists, and owned a dairy farm in the eastern Adirondacks. Two exhibits of his work are on display through December 15 in St. Lawrence's Brush Art Gallery and the Owen D. Young Library's Special Collections.

Rockwell Kent: The Once Most Popular American Artist is a display of dozens of works in a variety of media. Kent's prominence as an artist, author, adventurer and socio-political activist made him a media phenomenon. He died in 1971.

In this second of a two-part series of conversations, Todd Moe toured the exhibit in Special Collections in the ODY Library. He spoke with Cathy Tedford, Brush Art Gallery Director and Special Collections Curator and Archivist Mark McMurray about the university's collection of Kent correspondence, original prints, books and other ephemera -- including some recent acquisitions.  Go to full article

Upper Jay, NY, Jan 27, 2012 — An Adirondack community welcomes the return of its library this weekend, after months of repair work. The doors of the Wells Memorial Library in Upper Jay will reopen on Saturday as part of a day-long celebration. Five months ago, heavy flooding damaged the library after Hurricane Irene.

The library's board president, Marie-Anne Azar Ward, says flood waters ruined a majority of the library's books, and nearly all the children's collection was destroyed.

Azar Ward says the community rolled-up its collective sleeves and went to work repairing the 106-year old building. The re-opening celebration, with music and food, starts at 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Jan 25, 2012 — Libraries aren't just quiet places filled with books. In the North Country, libraries serve as social hubs and community centers. These days, they're scrambling to keep pace with the changing ways that we use information and technology.

But decreases in funding are making it harder for rural libraries to juggle their many missions. Sarah Harris has our story.  Go to full article

Chazy, NY, Jan 25, 2012 — These are tough times, as libraries grapple with changing technology and shrinking budgets. But librarians in Clinton County say their work is more important than ever. Sarah Harris talked with Stan Ransom, Frances Fairchild, Betsy Brooks, Eva Jankowska and Jacqueline Madison, all librarians in Clinton County.  Go to full article

Keene Valley, NY, Jul 21, 2010 — You're invited to take part in a marathon reading of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn at the Keene Valley Library on Friday. Librarian Karen Glass says the day-long "Huck Finn Out Loud" event starts early in the morning and will feature 30 readers reading aloud for 30 minutes each. Twain spent the summer of 1901 on Lower Saranac Lake. Glass told Todd Moe it's part of a series of events this summer that celebrate Twain's connection to the Adirondacks.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Jun 30, 2009 — Authors, music and a parade are part of the 125th anniversary of the Lake Placid library this week. The celebration starts tonight at 7 with an Author Appreciation Night and continues through Saturday with a March of the Classics entry in the Fourth of July Parade. Todd Moe spoke with Dave Messner, Lake Placid Middle and High School principal and library board member, who says the original trustees put together the library's charter during one meeting back in 1884.  Go to full article

May 05, 2009 — Go to the Massena Public Library on the first and third Saturdays of any month, and you'll find teenagers dueling, Yu Gi Oh style. Yu Gi Oh is a trading card game based on Japanese anime cartoons. It's like a Dungeons and Dragons for a new generation. James Roscha sponsors the regular tournaments. He and one of his Yu Gi Oh proteges are the subjects of today's Heard Up North. Sarah Minor produced this story.  Go to full article

Dec 30, 2008 — Trained dogs can detect bombs and help the physically challenged. Now, some educators say they're helping youngsters learn to read. Teachers and librarians say even though reading is difficult for some children, reading out loud, especially to dogs, helps build confidence. A group of therapy dogs in the North Country has been visiting local libraries as part of the "Read to a Dog" program. The volunteer canine corps brings dogs to the Canton Free Library a couple of times a month so children can practice reading out loud in a non-threatening environment. Todd Moe has more.  Go to full article

Jan 04, 2006 — There is noise and congestion at Watertown's public library - but this time the librarians don't mind. The Flower Memorial Library - a landmark in Watertown - is undergoing renovation and restoration in the midst of its centennial year. Opened in 1905, the library was a gift to the city by Emma Flower Taylor, the daughter of ex-Governor Roswell P. Flower. Todd Moe reports.  Go to full article