Flushing House resident to celebrate 100th birthday

David Cohen, who will turn 100 on May 24, became a resident of Flushing House in the summer of 2005.
He is a noted pioneer in the fields of multicultural librarianship and intellectual freedom. Two years ago, the American Library Association (ALA) voted “to bestow upon David Cohen Honorary Membership in the ALA, in recognition of his contributions to multicultural librarianship and intellectual freedom in a career stretching over seven decades.”
Cohen graduated from New York University (NYU) in 1930. He received his Master of Education degree from NYU in 1934, and his Master of Science from Columbia University. In the 1960s, he was active in several library organizations involved with multiculturalism, particularly the need for ethnic and foreign language materials.
In 1967 Cohen was chair of the ALA Committee on the Treatment of Minorities in Library Materials. He was the founding member of the Jewish Librarians’ Caucus and a co-founder of the Long Island Coalition Against Censorship. Cohen is also Professor Emeritus of the Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Studies.
In 1986, he was awarded the Intellectual Freedom Award by the New York Library Association. In 1999, the ALA created the prestigious David Cohen Multicultural Award for notable work on multiculturalism and libraries. In 2004, the ALA saluted Cohen on his 95th birthday with a proclamation for his lifetime of achievements.
“The staff and residents of Flushing House join with Cohen’s family in wishing him a heartfelt ‘Mazel Tov’ on his 100th birthday,” said Robert F. Salant, Director of Community Relations for Flushing House.
Flushing House, the innovative retirement residence built in 1974, was one of the first to offer older adults independent living with supportive services on-premises. As a not-for-profit organization, their mission is to provide a safe, enjoyable and affordable retirement experience for residents. For more information on Flushing House, visit their web site at www.flushinghouse.com.