Meet Rebecca Federman, NYPL's Electronic Resources Coordinator

Rebecca Federman has been with The New York Public Library since 2003. Prior to her career in librarianship Federman worked as a film publicist for a small boutique agency and as a web producer for a popular teen website. She entered librarianship with the intention of becoming a film archivist but soon learned that her love of cookbooks and food could work its way into a career as a librarian. Federman was an intern within The New York Public Library’s menu collection and has continued to work on that collection throughout her career at NYPL. She is currently NYPL’s Electronic Resources Coordinator; her prior position was as the social sciences bibliographer for the Humanities and Social Sciences Library. Federman holds a BA from Vassar College, an MLS from Pratt Institute, and is enrolled in the Liberal Studies Department at the CUNY Graduate Center. This fall she will be an adjunct professor at Pratt’s School of Library and Information Sciences. Federman also writes about the culinary collections at the Library on her NYPL blog and at cookedbooks.blogspot.com.

What are your favorite books?

Geoff Dyer, Yoga for People Who Can't Be Bothered to Do It

Marcella Hazan, Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking

Elizabeth McCracken, The Giant's House

William Styron, Sophie's Choice

What are your favorite movies?

The Awful Truth, directed by Leo McCarey

Before Sunrise, directed by Richard Linklater

The Conversation, directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Crooklyn, directed by Spike Lee

When the Cat's Away, directed by Cédric Klapisch

What are your favorite albums/CDs?

Mary J. Blige, My Life

The Kinks, The Village Green Preservation Society

Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Neil Young, Live at Massey Hall

Why do you Love the Library?

I believe that libraries are the hallmark of a civilized society, and that learning and access to information are fundamental human rights. On a personal level, I feel intellectually stimulated every day that I go to work. It's the best job I've ever had.

What are you currently working on?

I recently had the wonderful opportunity of working with chef Lidia Bastianich on the New York Public Library's Cookbooks & Menus Treasures video. It was a thrill to meet her, and she was extremely gracious. Right now, I'm settling into the Electronic Resources Coordinator position which has been a terrific learning experience for me. I've met lots of new people in and around NYPL, and I'm learning an entirely new side of librarianship.