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New York State Library News & Events
December 2025
| | The New York State Library’s services, programs, and collections are made possible by federal Library Service and Technology Act funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. | |
Connect with Knowledge You Trust!
The NYS Library continues its work to support New York Libraries removing barriers to build community. Read to the bottom of this email to learn more about our upcoming Room for Everyone webinar series.
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What's cooking in the Cultural Education Center? | |
While the NYS Library is home to many historic cookbooks, Amelia Simmons’s American Cookery is truly set apart. As the first cookbook for Americans, by an American, it captures a cooking culture wholly unlike what we know today and marks an important development in a national identity.
This month, we're proud to present the NYS Library’s very first episode of Look At This, featuring Elizabeth from Manuscripts and Special Collections and an edition of American Cookery by Amelia Simmons.
You can watch the video on our NYS Library YouTube channel, or catch it on the NYS Library blog, along with a complete transcript.
| | Researching the New York Red Book
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On November 7th, State Librarian Lauren Moore visited the Capitol Pressroom studio to talk about the New York Red Book, including a copy from over 100 years ago, and to make the case for investing more in the preservation efforts at the NYS Library. Tune in to Lauren’s interview for the nitty-gritty on the Library’s historic collections and ongoing preservation efforts, and learn more about our Red Book research on the NYS Library blog.
Early installments of the New York Red Book were likely part of the NYS Library’s expansive research collections at the time of the 1911 Capitol Fire. As with most items in the Library’s collection at the time, these copies were also a total loss. As one of the most destructive fires in the history of libraries, the Capitol Fire destroyed about 450,000 books, 270,000 manuscripts, and 300,000 pamphlets. The Library’s essential administrative records and its catalogs were lost as well.
You can also explore the story of the 1911 Capitol Fire—and the fate of the 1911 Red Book—on our Capitol Fire collection guide.
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From the Collections: We Studied the Blade | |
More than any other figure of the American Revolution, George Washington has enjoyed a legacy subject to exaggeration, mythmaking, and a downright confusion of facts. Washington's steel hilted dress sword, deposited with the NYS Library in 1873, is no exception to this rule. Join us on the NYS Library blog as we delve into our collections to trace the many twists and turns of this sword's incredible story.
You can also be a part of the small sword’s long story by visiting the NYS Museum’s current exhibit, George Washington: An American Paradox, which features Washington’s dress sword and several other items from the NYS Library’s collections. This exhibit closes in January 2026.
Explore the story of Washington's dress sword on the NYS Library blog.
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Room for Everyone: Library Accessibility Webinar Series | |
Web Accessibility: Three Things You Can Do Right Now
Date: Friday, December 5, 2025
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
| What makes the web accessible? During this session, we’ll build awareness around web accessibility and work through practical tips for creating everyday digital content that is accessible to all users. These tips are for anyone who sends email, creates documents, or maintains online content—no specific technical expertise is required. | |
Building a Culture of Accessibility at Your Library
Date: Friday, January 16, 2026
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
| Accessibility is an important part of your library’s service commitment, but perhaps you do not know where to begin with making your library more accessible. Maybe you are unsure of what to prioritize or how to get community buy-in for undertaking this work! Join this session to meet with the former NYU Libraries’ Accessibility & Accommodations Librarian, Lauren Kehoe, who will share her approach to building a culture of accessibility at NYU Libraries. The session will cover topics such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how it influences your library services, spaces, and resources; disability justice frameworks; universal design; and some practical tips for how to begin prioritizing accessibility in your library work. | |
Neuro-Inclusive Libraries: Rethinking Access, Engagement, and Belonging
Date: Friday, March 13, 2026
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
| Explore how libraries can better support people with ADHD and other forms of neurodivergence through intentional design, inclusive programming, and equitable policies. Based on research, this program invites library staff to examine traditional expectations around attention, behavior, and communication in library spaces and to reimagine services that create a sense of belonging for all. Participants will learn ways to break down barriers to access, make spaces more inviting, and recognize neurodiversity as a valuable part of building strong, connected communities. | | | | |
