Dynamic Harlem Librarian Recognized for Outstanding Community Service

2005 Maher Stern Award Presented in Ceremony on June 8

New York, NY, June 8, 2005 -- Supervising Librarian Jean Pamphile did not grow up dreaming of a career as a librarian. But this son of Haitian immigrants has become just that at The New York Public Library’s Hamilton Grange Branch in West Harlem, where he has found that what began as a part-time high school job when he was 14 years old, has turned into his passion. In his 16 year career at The New York Public Library, this life-long resident of Harlem has worked his way through high school, college, and graduate school while working at several Northern Manhattan and Harlem branches. There, he has come to realize that he has a genuine knack for serving his community by providing superb library service.

l to r: Martin Smith, Director of Constituent Services for City Council Member Robert Jackson; Susan Kent, Director and Chief Executive, The Branch Libraries; Jean F. Pamphile, Award-winner and Supervising Librarian at the Hamilton Grange Library; Allison Maher Stern, Founder of the Award; and Jean A. Pamphile, Father of the Award-winner.

It is this outstanding commitment to public service on the part of Mr. Pamphile and the entire staff at the Hamilton Grange Library, that has earned them the Library's distinguished Maher Stern Award for Service Excellence for 2005. The award ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 8, at 9:00 a.m. at the Hamilton Grange Branch Library, located at 503 West 145th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. In attendance will be Susan Kent, Director and Chief Executive of The Branch Libraries; Allison Maher Stern, philanthropist and founder of the award; Mr. Pamphile and his staff; and local school children.

Allison Maher Stern, who with her husband Leonard Stern established the Award for Service Excellence in 1993, will present the $1,000 prize to Mr. Pamphile. The award, which is used to further enhance Branch Library service, honors a librarian and his or her staff for excellence in community service.

“Jean Pamphile's leadership and the talents of his wonderful staff have made the Hamilton Grange Branch Library a place that is cherished by the Northern Manhattan community,” said Dr. Paul LeClerc, President of The New York Public Library. “Allison Maher Stern and her husband Leonard have greatly encouraged library staff over the years by so generously providing the Library with this annual opportunity to honor an exemplary librarian.”

Under the leadership of Mr. Pamphile and his staff, the Hamilton Grange Branch Library was closed for renovation in 2002 and the staff moved to a temporary site. The library reopened in 2003 following a $1.2 million renovation of its beautiful landmark building, which now features well appointed new spaces for community programming, wireless Internet access, and 22 computers for the thousands of people who use this library annually.

Throughout the renovation and the reopening of the new and improved library, Mr. Pamphile and his staff’s exemplary teamwork ensured that the library remained a vital part of the community. Mr. Pamphile notes that since the Branch reopened, attendance and circulation of materials are increasing month by month. “This shows that we have a hard working and dedicated staff at Hamilton Grange who are giving 110% effort with a smile,” he said. Following the renovation, the Hamilton Grange Library staff immediately started working with the community, which they noted has become more diverse, serving many different nationalities who speak a wide variety of languages. The children’s librarian held classes and programming in the temporary site for neighborhood children and she now reaches out to the schools, daycare centers and area shelters to ensure that all children have library cards and are able to use the tremendous free resources available to them.

Johanna Lewis, the Young Adult Librarian, takes special pride in her section of the first floor, having a sparkly neon “teen library” sign above to designate the section. She informs local teens about special events and times of the year including displays for March – National Women’s History Month, and April – National Poetry Month. She holds creative writing workshops for up to 100 teens at a time, photography workshops, ‘Zine writing, as well as various craft and cooking workshops. She also provides much needed assistance to neighboring libraries that do not have Young Adult Librarians .

“The Hamilton Grange Library staff go well beyond the call of duty in their dedication to making the Library accessible to all ages,” said Ms. Kent. “Children come to the Hamilton Grange Branch Library and are exposed to books and learning. And adults of all ages and teens are engaged and active in using the beautifully renovated spaces. Everyone benefits from the fine work done by these unsung heroes.”

“Jean Pamphile and his staff have taken remarkable steps to connect with the people of this neighborhood,” said Mrs. Stern. “They provide an environment in which patrons have access, not only to books and computers, but to the time, knowledge, and expertise of the staff.”

Built in 1907 with funds donated to New York City by Andrew Carnegie, the Hamilton Grange Library was named after founding father and statesman Alexander Hamilton’s nearby historic home on Convent Avenue, built in 1802 on what was then a sprawling 32 acre estate in upper Manhattan. The Hamilton house was named “The Grange” after the Hamilton family's ancestral home in Scotland. The Hamilton Grange Library was designated as a New York City Landmark in 1970 and is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places.

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Contact: Jennifer Bertrand at 212.704.8600