Nomination for Arezoo Moseni

Senior Librarian

The New York Public Library, Mid-Manhattan Library, The Art Collection

New York, New York

Anna Kiraly

New York, NY

1. How long have you known the nominee and how did you come to know him or her?

I have known Arezoo Moseni for the past 5 years. I got to know her by frequently asking for her help in the field of books on art and artists. She was not only helpful but extremely knowledgeable. I work as a scenic designer for theaters and research includes very many fields of art-from photography through sculpture and architecture to fashion. She could always advice me on all these topics. She asked me to keep her updated of my upcoming work. Later I found out that she is an active artist herself. She initiated a series of lectures at her branch to help fellow artists deal with different challenges in their career. She organized exhibitions of artists' work at the library and has curated the "art in the windows" series where she selected artists to make installations in the small windows at the entrance of the Mid-Manhattan Library.

2.  Please list a few ways in which the nominee has helped you and others and made your experience of the library a positive one.

She has a strong passion combined with extreme knowledge. She will not only help point to the shelf where the book you are looking for is, but will open up more possibilities and tell you about publications you couldn't have found by looking at titles in a catalog. She told me about artists I didn't know before and knew about events in the city that were related to my topic.

3. How has the library, and the nominee, improved the quality of your life?

I couldn't do all the research I need to do for work without the library-and Arezoo Moseni. Each project I work on begins with a solid research. Library provides an environment where you can search through publications and what's more you can actually take books home for further study.

4. How does the nominee make the library a better place? Please be specific.

I know she'll always help me find the books that'll inspire my design work. There's always something interesting to look at on the walls-by artists she brings in on a rotating basis. She is always updated on what's going on in the arts, so she makes the art section into a living center.

5. How has the librarian made a difference in the community?

She has made the Mid-Manhattan Branch/Art section into a living art center where you can come and listen to lectures, you can get information about exhibitions and of course you can be advised on publications. She has connected people who were researching related topics and made the library into a place where you want to come back for information.