Michael York of Goffstown has been appointed as librarian of the Library and Archives of New Hampshire's Political Tradition (Political Library) at the N.H. State Library. Mr. York, the first librarian to hold this new position, assumed his duties on March 16, 1998.

Prior to his appointment at the Political Library, Mr. York was the director of the Susan Colgate Cleveland Library at Colby Sawyer College. From 1991 to 1996 he was the interim director of the Dimond Library at the University of New Hampshire and for the preceding decade he was the director of Oudens Library at the University of New Hampshire at Manchester. During this time period Mr. York also served as the president of the New England Library Association and was a member of the New Hampshire State Library Advisory Council for six years, becoming its chairman in 1995. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, he earned a master of library science degree at Louisiana State University.

The Political Library is the first of its kind in the nation and is designed to provide both an important historical record and insight into the primary election campaign process itself. It is the only repository that contains a comprehensive collection of election campaign papers and paraphernalia from half a century of New Hampshire presidential primary history. It also houses the papers of several former New Hampshire governors, and materials from the state's congressional campaign. It was this decided New Hampshire flavor that attracted Mr. York to the position and he feels that it will be exciting and rewarding to be part of something that is uniquely New Hampshire. He cites the state's significant role in national politics for almost 50 years as a strong and compelling reason to collect all the materials that will serve to chronicle that role.

In his new position, Mr. York will be responsible for the administration of the Library; policy development; coordinating activities with the State Library and other state agencies; research and educational activities; publications; access to the collection; exhibit creation; and the total Library program as it serves all those interested in New Hampshire's rich political tradition.