[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 24, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                FORT WASHINGTON LIBRARY 80TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______


                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 24, 1994

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the anniversary 
of the Fort Washington Branch Library which is celebrating its 80th 
year of service, in Washington Heights, in my congressional district in 
New York.
  Throughout the years many thousands of people the world over and from 
all walks of life, have availed themselves of the services of this 
branch--among them: Maria Callas, Lou Gehrig, Henry Kissinger, Edwin 
Newman, and Jacob Javits to name but a few.
  In the 1920's and 1930's immigrants came mostly from Europe--Ireland, 
Germany, Poland, et cetera, and settled in the Washington Heights-
Inwood area. Now, the majority of the immigrants are coming from the 
Caribbean, particularly the Dominican Republic, as well as from the 
former Soviet Union.
  The Fort Washington Library is performing the same functions now as 
it has done in the past--namely, to reach out into the community by 
providing much needed services. They have books and cassettes to learn 
English for whose who wish to do so. They also have books in diverse 
languages for those who wish to read in their native tongue. Fort 
Washington has special classes for those Spanish-speaking individuals 
who cannot read or write Spanish because it was discovered that before 
a person can learn a second language such as English, he or she must 
first become literate in their own.
  Fort Washington has the largest reference library in northern 
Manhattan which includes eight Spanish encyclopedias in addition to 
newspapers in Russian, Spanish, and Greek. They are usually filled up 
with wall-to-wall people of all ages--students doing homework, people 
reading Standard and Poors and the Wall Street Journal, as well as 
magazines on physical fitness, sports, and a broad range of topics.
  The children's room is the second busiest branch in Manhattan and is 
constantly busy with story hours and special programs geared to 
different age groups.
  Their young adult and children's librarians invite classes to the 
library and also go to the schools to tell stories, give book talks, 
and encourage the children to avail themselves of Fort Washington's 
services.
  The library is available to all and has been for the past 80 years. 
They are looking forward to another 80 years playing an important role 
in their ever changing and vital community.

                          ____________________