Anthony Calnek, vice president for communications and marketing for the NY Public Library, responds to Kindred Gamers: NY Public Library as Video Parlor:
I won’t comment on your parenting observations, but when it comes to your speculation about the use of “Kindred Spirits” funds (“Let’s just hope this is not where the art-sale proceeds are going.”), I think you could take your advice to Paul—“Go do your homework”—and apply it to yourself!
You don’t have to go to the library, in this case, since the answer to the question of how “Kindred Spirits” proceeds have been used can be found by searching your own archive; in January 2007, you quoted me saying, “All proceeds have gone into an endowment strictly for acquisitions by the Research Libraries.” Not a penny has, or will, go for anything other than research materials.
Your homework assignment must also include a look at our press release about Game On @ The Library, which makes clear that this is a branch library initiative; it even includes a funding credit: “The March 21 Game On! program at the Humanities and Social Sciences Library is generously funded through the Cultural After School Adventure Program by
New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and The City of New York.” Speaker Quinn, a great champion of New York City’s libraries, is the true kindred spirit who deserves credit here.