Really Really Interested in Learning More

I've never met Betty Bolden. She must be funny:

"Years ago, probably in the 1970s, UTS offered (possibly for the first time) a class on sexuality and there were 2 copies of a book, “The Playbook,” that were placed on reserve for students in the course. This book detailed male and female bodies, positions, and featured a lot of graphic content. Whenever students needed to borrow the book for class, they would often hide it under piles of their other books so nobody could see what they were checking out.

This was in the early years when there were battles against pornography and everybody was talking about decency. It was a big deal for this course to cover some of these issues and questions. And both copies of “The Playbook” were stolen before the end of the semester so I guess people were really, really interested in learning more…"

"Today, we celebrate and bid farewell to Betty Bolden, as she retires after 49 years of service to the Burke Library and Union communities.

"Anyone who has visited the Burke Library over the past several decades will probably have had the pleasure of meeting Betty. Those who have had that privilege will understand something of both the gratitude and the sadness I feel in announcing that at the end of this year she will be retiring.

At Union Seminary, she was one of the founding members of the Black Women's Caucus, for several years serving as a co-convener. In the late 70s, she helped the UTS staff organize and unionize. She was the lead organizer of Union's Harlem Initiatives Together, which for 10 years worked on transit issues in central Harlem. (At that time, the group and Union was the only seminary in the country affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation, one of the country's largest community activism organizations.) In 2013, she was honored by Union with a Trailblazers award, recognizing her many powerful contributions to African American communities of faith and practice, and in helping students "recognize their power in the world at large."

Betty has been an esteemed colleague to countless staff, students, and faculty over the years. Her presence and spirit have helped make the Burke what every library strives to be: a place where people come to learn, work, grow, share, struggle, and celebrate together."
-Matthew Baker, Head Librarian at The Burke Library - Columbia University

We are so grateful for the many ways you have made this place better. Enjoy retirement!"