Anthony Calnek Joins The New York Public Library As Vice President for Communications and Marketing

Anthony Calnek has been appointed Vice President for Communications and Marketing at The New York Public Library. Mr. Calnek joins the Library following a 16-year tenure at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, where he served most recently as Deputy Director for Communications and Publishing. In his new position, Mr. Calnek will oversee the Public Relations, Marketing, and Graphics departments. His immediate priorities are to strengthen the Library's overall communications strategy in support of its long-term goals, and lead a rebranding effort that will aid the public in better understanding the wealth of resources the Library has to offer.

"Anthony Calnek is a wonderful addition to our management team," said President Paul LeCerc, "bringing a wealth of experience in the cultural arena, strong leadership skills, and tremendous enthusiasm to the Library at this historic juncture. Effective communication with the public, the press, and our patrons is vitally important as new technologies allow us to expand our reach globally, while realizing our traditional mandates to provide critical free services to our local communities and easy access to our unsurpassed collections."

Mr. Calnek began his career as an editor and writer, and joined the Guggenheim in 1990 to develop a global publishing program in tandem with the Foundation's expanded presence in Europe, Asia, and the U.S.; in this role, Mr. Calnek supervised the publication and global distribution of award-winning books and catalogues in more than a dozen languages. He also launched several serial print publications for the Foundation's museums, supervised its successful retail program, and oversaw the launch and expansion of its web site, www.guggenheim.org, which enjoys more than 6 million unique visitors annually. In 2003, he was named a Deputy Director, adding responsibility for the Guggenheim's press office to his portfolio, and acting as the official spokesperson of the Foundation and its Director, Thomas Krens.

"I am deeply honored to be given this opportunity to serve The New York Public Library, a great institution that is central to both the daily life and international reputation of this city," said Mr. Calnek. "I look forward to building greater awareness and use of the Library's expanding resources, innovative programs, and important initiatives." A 1984 graduate of Harvard College, he was an editor of the Harvard Lampoon and participated in the Hasty Pudding Theatricals as an actor and author. Mr. Calnek is the author of The Hasty Pudding Theatre: A History of Harvard's Hairy-Chested Heroines (Cambridge, Mass. and New York: 1986), The New Yorker Visits the Guggenheim (New York: 2005), as well as of catalogue essays on the Guggenheim's history and architecture.

About The New York Public Library
The New York Public Library was created in 1895 with the consolidation of the private libraries of John Jacob Astor and James Lenox with the Samuel Jones Tilden Trust. The Library provides free and open access to its physical and electronic collections and information, as well as to its services. It comprises four research centers – the Humanities and Social Sciences Library; The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts; the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture; and the Science, Industry and Business Library – and 86 Branch Libraries in Manhattan, Staten Island, and the Bronx. Research and circulating collections combined total more than 50 million items. In addition, each year the Library presents thousands of exhibitions and public programs, which include classes in technology, literacy, and English as a second language. The New York Public Library serves over 15 million patrons who come through its doors annually and another 21 million users internationally, who access collections and services through the NYPL website, www.nypl.org.

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Contact :             Herb Scher     212.592.7700          |             hscher@nypl.org

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