Low Bridge, Everybody Down…The Story of the Genesee Valley Canal

Saturday  October 20, 2012 @ 2:00 pm—Olean Public Library

 

 

Allegany County Historian Mr. Craig Braack will present Low Bridge, Everybody Down…The Story of the Genesee Valley Canal Saturday October 20^th at 2pm at the Olean Public Library.

The Erie Canal opened across NYS in 1825.  Its success was immediate and led New York State to becoming “The Empire State.”  The need for lateral canals in parts of the rest of the state stirred local interests into creating the Genesee Valley Canal starting about 1830.  This canal ran from Rochester south to Belfast next to the Genesee River and turned southwest heading to Cuba, Olean, Portville and ended just into Pennsylvania.  Cuba Lake and dam were constructed to provide water for the canal.

Unfortunately, the popularity and growth of railroads ultimately put the Genesee valley canal out of business in 1877.  Several railroads soon built track on the canal’s tow path in the next few decades and the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Rochester Division was the last line to use it, closing about 1963.  Now almost all of the canal’s towpath is the Genesee valley Greenway hiking trail.  Mr. Braack’s program illustrates this history.

Mr. Braack has held the position of Allegany County Historian and County Records Management Officer since 1985. He served in the United States Navy and is a graduate of the State University of New York in Geneseo.

This program is free and open to the public.  The Olean Public Library is located at 134 North Second Street, Olean, NY.   For more information please call the Reference Desk at (716) 372-0200 or visit the website at http://www.oleanlibrary.org

Part Time Librarian Position Available

The Olean Public Library is seeking a part time librarian to provide reference service and computer instruction.

Duties:

•  Provide reference and readers’ advisory service
•  Provide instruction in both print and electronic resources
•  Provide individual assistance and instruction, including one-on-one computer tutoring, to meet the needs and abilities of patrons using the library’s public computer center. Areas of instruction will include, but not be limited to, the following: basic computer skills; setting up and using e-mail; searching the Internet; and using Microsoft Office applications.
•  Other duties as assigned

Skills Required:

• Strong public service orientation
• Tact and courtesy in dealing with the public
• Excellent computer skills
• Ability to communicate library policies and procedures to the public
• Ability to handle many tasks simultaneously
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Schedule:
Includes some evenings and weekends.

Qualifications:
ALA accredited MLS and NYS Public Librarian Certificate preferred, but will consider a student enrolled in an ALA-accredited library school.

Position available immediately. Resumes accepted until position is filled. Send resume and cover letter to:

Kim Mahar
Assistant Director
Olean Public Library
134 N. 2nd Street
Olean, NY 14760
716-372-0200
kmahar@oleanlibrary.org
http://www.oleanlibrary.org