Kurt Landsberger, founder of Bel-Art Products  and Maddak was recently “Booked for the Evening” by the Newark Public Library. Booked for the Evening recognizes individuals who have displayed great commitment towards NPL’s mission.

Mr. Landsberger – a visionary, entrepreneur, philanthropist and author – received a Special Recognition for Community Service award.  NPL received Mr. Landsberger’s “historically noteworthy assortment of more than 2,000 postcards focused primarily on Essex County Buildings and Landscapes.”  The collection is housed in the Charles F. Cummings New Jersey Information Center at the Library.

Mr. Landsberger has contributed to local libraries and historical societies including those in Verona and Pequannock.  His contributions have included collections dealing with the Holocaust.

The Landsberger Foundation, established by Kurt and his late wife Anny, provides inner-city children with hands-on educational opportunities  in the environment, historic preservation and chess.

Mr. Landsberger is the founder of “Save the Mountain” preserving 240 acres of undeveloped land that today is part of Hilltop Reservation in Essex County Park.

Landsberger is the author of 6 books, including,
Daring to be Different: An Experiment in Busing Verona, New Jersey, 1968-1696
William Steinitz, Chess Champion: A Biography of the Bohemian Caesar
Prisoners of War at Camp Trinidad, Colorado 1943 – 1946: Internment, Intimidation, Incompetence and Country Club Living

Read more about this Renaissance Man and the Newark Public Library by downloading this excerpt from the Booked for the Evening program.

Visit the Newark Public Library online by visiting:  www.npl.org