[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 24, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
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]

 
   A TRIBUTE TO MS. NELL STRICKLAND ON HER RETIREMENT FROM THE ARMY 
                            LIBRARY PROGRAM

  Mr. NUNN. Mr. President, today I want to congratulate Ms. Nell 
Strickland, Director of the Army General Library Program, on the 
occasion of her retirement from Government service.
  I am especially pleased to note that she began her distinguished 
career in my home State of Georgia, at Camp Stewart in 1954. This 
career spanned nearly four decades of service in three continents with 
assignments in Japan, France, Germany, Vietnam, Panama, Hawaii, 
Washington, DC, and Virginia. During her time in Vietnam, Nell 
established mobile libraries, frequently moving them as the troops 
relocated. Traveling by helicopter in combat zones, she often came 
under enemy fire as she visited the libraries. Her tenure in Vietnam is 
a testimonial to her professionalism, courage and her total dedication 
and commitment to supporting our Army's fighting troops.
  During Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Nell again mobilized the 
library program in support of our troops. She developed plans for field 
library service to the Middle East, and coordinate the receipt and 
delivery of millions of donated books that made their way to all 
branches of our Armed Forces serving in the region. If you ever saw a 
picture of one of our soldiers reading a book in the desert, chances 
are that it was sent there by Ms. Strickland.
  Throughout her career, Nell accomplished her duties with a level of 
professionalism and expertise rarely equalled in her profession. As 
chief architect of the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Library 
Activities Program, she established a library policy that offers a 
standard of service unparalleled in uniformed service library history. 
Ever on the lookout for what would serve the soldiers and their 
families, Nell spearheaded the transition from collections focused 
primarily on recreation reading materials to a focus on education. As a 
direct result of Ms. Strickland's expertise and selfless service, Army 
libraries compete favorably with public library systems across the 
country, and are consistently rated by soldiers, through Morale, 
Welfare, and Recreation surveys, as one of the most needed and valuable 
services offered.
  Nell Strickland's breadth of experience has formed the basis of a 
program today that employs over 650 people and provides professional 
library services to Army personnel world-wide through 160 libraries. 
Under her tenure, Army libraries have developed into an integral part 
of the information network required to support a highly technical and 
complex Army.
  Mr. President, I ask our colleagues to join me in congratulating Ms. 
Strickland on her retirement and to thank her for her dedicated, 
professional, and selfless service to the men and women of the U.S. 
Army and their families.

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