Nozzolio secures grant to support ILR library collections

By Linda Myers

The M.P. Catherwood Library at Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations was awarded a $50,000 grant from New York state to support its collections. The grant, which comes out of the state's 2002-03 budget, was announced at the dedication of the library's new wing last October by New York State Sen. Michael F. Nozzolio (R-53rd. Dist.), who secured it.

New York State Sen. Michael Nozzolio '73 at the October 2002 dedication of the new wing of the ILR School's Catherwood Library. Dewey Neild

The library is one of the largest resources for books and documents on workplace studies in the world. Nozzolio is a graduate of the ILR School, class of 1973, and also earned an M.S. degree in agricultural economics from Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 1977.

Nozzolio called the library "world class" and said: "As a student at the ILR School, I spent many days and nights at the Catherwood Library. It played an integral role in my academic and professional pursuits. It is my hope that this grant will help ensure that future generations of Cornell students have access to the best library and the best resources possible in order to expand their horizons and take hold of the opportunities that await them."

Nozzolio also said that securing the grant was especially meaningful to him because the library's namesake, M.P. Catherwood, had been "a tremendous mentor" to him when he was a young man. The senator, who as a student at Cornell was a research intern for Catherwood for two years, said he inspired him to pursue a career in public life. Catherwood, who died in 1978, taught public administration at the ILR School, went on to become dean of the school in 1947-58 and was a respected leader in New York state government. Among the posts he held was industrial commissioner, under Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. Nozzolio called Catherwood "a great professor, a great public servant and a great man."

ILR Dean Edward Lawler said: "We are extremely grateful for Senator Nozzolio's generous support of the library. The grant will help keep our unique collections on labor-management relations on the cutting edge. It also provides a special way to honor the contributions of Dean Catherwood, who led the school during the library's formative years."

Gordon Law, director of the library, said: "The grant will enable us to expand our materials and resources, including the collection of materials on issues in the workplace. This funding will help us maintain the Catherwood Library's standing as the foremost library of its type in North America and one of only two others like it in the world."

The library's new wing provides seating for nearly one third of the 750 undergraduates at the ILR School. A state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure permits high-speed access for students and faculty to electronic databases at Cornell and in remote locations. Completion of the last phase of construction last August doubled program space to 60,000 square feet.