Jacques Barzun | From the Library Notes Newsletter, Thursday, June 1, 1995

I am deeply touched and thank the Board of Trustees—especially Shirley Hazzard—for their generous opinion, which has led to this award. My time on the Board falls into two sharply contrasting periods. When I first joined, the chairman was Mr. Arnold Whitridge, the grandson of Matthew Arnold. He was a polished gentleman with a classical English education, who taught at Columbia. He was thus a colleague of mine, but I saw him there only casually. It was here I got to know him. His policy was Peace and Quiet, and his method was suavity. So smooth was the chairman that toward the end of his tenure, he would make all motions himself and after the briefest pause, wold say: "I'm sure we're all agreed about this. Please put down 'Unanimous Vote.'" All this lent a dreamy quality to the meetings, so that when one got out on 79th Street afterwards, one felt like someone who has just waked from a refreshing sleep.

Fortunately for the subscribers, there was, outside the boardroom, Miss Ruskell. She was an impressive personality. From her desk, the one where Mr. Piel now sits she managed the staff and the subscribers without seeming managerial. She was the embodiment of outreach before the word was invented, the Internet in human form.

All this atmosphere of deep calm and family values changed rather abruptly, and the Board found itself going from one excitement to another. First came the renovation of the whole building, which involved many grave decisions. I shall mention one to give you an idea of our intent deliberations. It was whether to put the statue of the graceful girl at the turn of the main stairs. Her left foot projects a little from the base, and some were afraid that her toes would be broken off buy the throngs marching up and down. Next came the great crisis, the vehement debate about facing the 21st century. Were we prepared? A consultant told us that all other libraries were arming themselves. We asked how. By computerizing, of course—simple but very expensive.

But the resisters believed there was no rush, the 21st century was likely to approach one year at a time. A satisfactory compromise was reached and steps were taken to provide the staff immediately with the electronic help that would facilitate their work. From this high point, excitement gradually abated.

The new calm differs from the old as the present chairman's smooth handling differs from the earlier one. Bill Dean's is ensured by his orderly mind, his quick wit, and tactfulness. Another source of comfort is Mr. Piel, a remarkable librarian who loves and reads books. Equally gratifying is what you heard from our vigilant treasurer: our bottom line is free of those irritating parentheses that indicate a deficit. With all these attractive characteristics of our present state, you will not be surprised to hear that I am ready to serve another twenty-five or thirty years.

Widely known as a scholar, teacher, and author specializing in the cultural history of the modern period, Jacques Barzun has had a distinguished career at Columbia University. He is the former president of the National Institute of Arts and Letters and a recipient of the French Legion of Honor. Internationally acclaimed for his works of biography, history and criticism, Barzun has written more than forty books. The above is abridged from his remarks at the Annual Meeting, April 25, 1995 upon being presented with an award from the Library for his 27 years as a trustee.