Join Us for a War of 1812 Presentation on Wednesday May 28th

Join Allegany County Historian and Olean Public Library favorite Craig Braack for a presentation on the War of 1812 in our area on Wednesday May 28th at 6:30pm.

The nation is now celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the “Second War for American Independence.” Come learn about WNY’s role in the war. Mr. Braack will also cover the final burial of 28 soldiers from the war of 1812 which we uncovered by accident in Niagara Falls, ON in 1987. In June 1988, they were re-interred in the National Cemetery at the Bath, NY Veterans Administration Hospital.

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.

The 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/

Olean Public Library Volunteers Honored

OLEAN, NY – On Tuesday May 13th the Olean Public Library held their annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner at the Bartlett Country Club. The total hours volunteered in 2013 was 1,602, 112 of which were performed by 8 teen volunteers. Using the estimated value of volunteer time in NY State ($26.54 per hour as reported by Independent Sector) this was a value of $42,372.90 for the library.

New to this year’s recognition program was the President’s Volunteer Service Award. This award was established in 2003 by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation to “recognize the valuable contributions volunteers are making in our communities and encourage more people to serve.” (More information may be found at http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov) The library had several levels of recipients. The bronze level award goes to volunteers with 100-249 hours over a 12 month period. These awards were given out to Donna Costanza, Bernie Eisenhart, Rita Kowalik, Suzanne Marcus, Robert Taylor, and Cathy Walters. The silver level award goes to volunteers with 250-499 hours over a 12 month period. These awards were handed out to Carol Bess and John Mansour.

John Mansour also received the President’s Call to Service Award for volunteering more than 4,000 hours over his lifetime to the library. John has been a library volunteer for the past 27 years and has decided to retire from service. John also was recognized as performing the most volunteer hours in 2013 with a total of 300 ½ hours. Lance Chaffee, library director, also presented John with a plaque in hour of his 27 years of dedicated service to the library. Mr. Mansour received a standing ovation from members of the library staff, Board of Directors, and Friends of the Library.

Throughout his 27 years, John Mansour has worked at the Circulation Desk checking out books and providing book recommendations, serving on the Friends of the Library Board, and as chairman of the tree planting committee. Mr. Mansour is a retired teacher and a veteran of World War II. He will be missed by both the patrons and the staff of the Olean Public Library.

Lance Chaffee, director, presents John Mansour with a Plaque for his 27 Years of Dedicated Service