The New York State Library Announces May Public Programs

The New York State Library announces its upcoming programming for May, including webinars and events related to history, small business development assistance, and genealogical services.

The following upcoming free programming requires registration and is available in person or offered online, as indicated per each listing.

Dark Voyage: An American Privateer's War on Britain's African Slave Trade (Webinar)
Wednesday, May 10
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Christian McBurney will be speaking on his new book, Dark Voyage:  An American Privateer’s War on Britain’s African Slave Trade (Westholme, 2022). McBurney’s new book chronicles the remarkable voyage by an American privateer to Africa with its goal of advancing the cause of America’s War of Independence by attacking British slave forts and capturing British slave ships in Africa. The program will focus on the mastermind behind the voyage, merchant John Brown of Providence, the disturbing mixed motivations of Brown and his mostly Rhode Island privateersmen, and the startling unintended consequences of the attacks by this privateer and other American privateers in disrupting Britain’s huge slave trading industry. This is a story never before told. 

This is Christian McBurney’s sixth book on the American Revolutionary War. Christian is President of The George Washington American Revolution Round Table of the District of Columbia, and he is the founder and publisher of Rhode Island’s leading history blog. He is an independent historian residing in Kensington, Maryland. 

Register for Dark Voyage: An American Privateer's War on Britain's African Slave Trade

Onsite Walking Tour of the Local History and Genealogy Resources at the New York State Library
Friday, May 12
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

The New York State Library is a treasure chest of resources for those tracing their family histories. Join us for an onsite tour highlighting published genealogies, local histories, church records, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) records, United States and New York State Census records, newspapers on microfilm, city directories, and more. Cara Janowsky, an Associate Librarian at the New York State Library, will lead the tour. The tour is limited to 10 individuals and registration is required.

Register for the May 12 Onsite Walking Tour of the Local History and Genealogy Resources at the New York State Library

Copyright Basics (Webinar)
Wednesday, May 17
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

If you are an entrepreneur, you cannot afford to ignore copyrights. Attend this free online seminar for U.S. entrepreneurs and small business. Join experts from the USPTO's Office of Policy and International Affairs to learn the basics of copyright and receive insights into copyright registration and enforcement.

Maryna K. Gipsov is an intellectual property attorney by occupation, artist by heart, and children’s book author by dream come true. Maryna has worked as a Trademark Examining Attorney at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for more than 4 years. She has recently joined the Copyright Team at the Office of Policy and International Affairs (USPTO) as an Attorney-Advisor to work on various copyright policy matters both domestically and internationally.

Register for Copyright Basics

Onsite Walking Tour of the Local History and Genealogy Resources at the New York State Library
Thursday, May 25
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

The New York State Library is a treasure chest of resources for those tracing their family histories. Join us for an onsite tour highlighting published genealogies, local histories, church records, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) records, United States and New York State Census records, newspapers on microfilm, city directories, and more. Cara Janowsky, an Associate Librarian at the New York State Library, will lead the tour. The tour is limited to 10 individuals and registration is required.

Register for the May 25 Onsite Walking Tour of the Local History and Genealogy Resources at the New York State Library

Visit the State Library's website for a complete list of upcoming programs, including webinars, events, and onsite genealogy walking tours. Additional programs will be added to the website as they are confirmed. 

If any reasonable accommodation is needed (Americans with Disabilities Act), contact the Office of Cultural Education at least three business days before the program date by emailing NYSLTRN@nysed.gov or calling (518) 474-2274. 

The New York State Library is part of the Office of Cultural Education within the New York State Education Department. The New York State library celebrated its bicentennial in 2018. The Library serves three major constituencies. The Regent Joseph E. Bowman Jr. Research Library, established by law in 1818, collects, preserves, and makes available materials that support State government work. The Library's collections, now numbering over 20 million items, may also be used by other researchers onsite, online, and via interlibrary loan. The Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) lends braille, audiobooks, magazines, and special playback equipment to residents of the 55 upstate counties of New York State who cannot read printed materials because of a visual or physical disability. The Division of Library Development works in partnership with 72 library systems to bring library services to millions of people who use New York's academic, public, school, and special libraries. Library Development also administers State and Federal grant programs that provide aid for library services.