Members' News

November 1, 2011

2011 Arts Awards

The library's executive director, Will Baker, is honored to be a recipient of the Arts Council of Greater New Haven's 2011 Arts Awards. From the Arts Council's web site: "This year's Arts Awards recognize Great Adaptations, the creations of ambitious and industrious minds. The Arts Council is proud to acknowledge those among us for whom the pursuit of an ideal is a chase not undertaken alone, those among us whose unique experiences are made richer when shared, and those among us whose visions for a brighter future are being realized before our eyes." Please click here to learn more.

September 25, 2011

The New Journal at Yale: "Call to Renew"

Yale College journalist Clare Sestanovich has written the most extensive news article on the Institute Library in recent memory, focusing on its 19th-century history and current efforts to redefine and reinvigorate its sense of purpose in today's knowledge landscape. Ms. Sestanovich's article led longtime New Haven theater critic (and library member) Christopher Arnott to write, "The New Journal seems to want to genuinely understand non-Yale institutions. They don't treat New Haven like some mysterious outside world." Read it here.

May 27, 2011

The Institute Library on WNPR

Uma Ramiah of WNPR covered the recent Yale Day of Service / Member Work Day at the library, when 17 volunteers came together to continue the cleaning and restoration project on our building's third floor. Read or listen to her report on the library's revitalization efforts here: "New Beginnings for New Haven's Institute Library: Venerable Libary Turns a Corner."

May 25, 2011

"Like" us on Facebook!

It has been a busy couple of months at the library, and we've clearly fallen behind on our updates here. We are posting regularly on Facebook, however, so please visit our facebook page and click "Like" to check in on us and receive updates about news and events.

April 10, 2011

Fine Books & Collections: "New Ideas at Connecticut's Only Remaining Membership Library"

Basie Bales Gitlin, New Haven's favorite young rare book seller, recently returned home from his studies at Cambridge and made his first visit to the Institute Library. Before heading back to England, he managed to write a much-appreciated article on the library for Fine Books & Collections magazine - you can read it here.

March 23, 2011

Volunteer Work Day: Sunday, March 27

Work is already under way on the renovation of the Institute Library building's long-forgotten third floor. By the end of the summer, we hope to have the space ready for reading and study during weekdays and lectures, receptions, and other events during evenings and weekends.

This Sunday, March 27, we will be holding a volunteer work day between 1:00 and 5:00. If you're interested in helping clean, organize, and repair, please call Will at the library: (203) 562-4045. All skill levels welcome!

March 17, 2011

Poetry Out Loud State Finals

Congratulations to Connecticut state champion Erin Connolly and all of the state finalists of the Poetry Out Loud competition held at Southern Connecticut State University last night. The Institute Library was proud to sponsor the Connecticut competitions of this national high school poetry recitation contest with funds from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism. Good luck to Erin at the national finals in Washington, D.C. next month!

Many thanks to Alice-Anne Harwood of the The Poetry Institute for her hard work in securing this grant and coordinating this exciting event. If you would like to read more about the evening, please read the press release from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism here.

March 2, 2011

New Haven Review: "847 Chapel Street, New Haven, Conn.," by Eva Geertz

Board member Eva Geertz has written an engaging personal account of first encounters at the Institute Library and directors "on a mission" - read it here.

March 2, 2011

New Haven Advocate: "The Institute Library Hires a Brand-New Director," by Ariel Baker-Gibbs

An encouraging mention from the New Haven Advocate regarding the new executive director position at the library and challenges ahead. Read it here.

February 14, 2011

Renewing Memberships Online

We are pleased to announce that memberships (including gift memberships) can now be purchased or renewed online. Please visit the "Renew Membership" link above to renew your membership or "Donate" to purchase a gift membership.

If you know someone who is interested in applying for their own membership for the first time (or after a long absence from the Library), please direct them to our "Join" page at www.institutelibrary.org/join.html.

February 10, 2011

This month, the Institute Library is embarking on its largest revitalization project since1931. While the main floor of the Library will remain a quiet refuge for work and reading during regular library hours, plans toward after-hours programming, community partnerships, collection development, and a renovated upper floor are now underway. These projects will require substantial new fundraising and volunteer efforts from our members, so please check back soon for updates on how you can help.