[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 7, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO QUEENS BOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY

                                 ______


                         HON. THOMAS J. MANTON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 7, 1996

  Mr. MANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very special 
organization as it celebrates 100 years of service to the residents of 
my district in the Queens Borough of New York City: The Queens Borough 
Public Library. In keeping with the library's centennial theme, 
``Lighting the Way,'' a year-long array of events commemorating this 
historic occasion is now underway at the Central Library in Jamaica, 
Queens, and at each of the library's 63 branches located throughout the 
borough.
  The official celebration began on March 19, with Charter Day programs 
presented throughout the Queens Library system. Charter Day is the 
anniversary of the signing of the Queens Library charter in 1896 by New 
York State Librarian Melvil Dewey, the architect of the familiar 
``Dewey Decimal System.''
  Mr. Speaker, the Queens Library provides a tremendous service to the 
2 million residents of Queens, virtually all of whom live within 
walking distance of a library branch. It provides more than 18,000 
cultural, educational, informational and social programs for Queens' 
residents. These include access to computerized data bases of social 
services and job listings, vocational counseling, classes in everything 
from coping skills to parenting, and accultruation for new immigrants 
in dozens of the languages spoken in Queens. After-school latchkey 
programs assist 35,000 Queens children each year to develop good 
homework habits and learn how to use a library. The library's literacy 
programs reach thousands more.
  Interwoven with all these are the library's technology programs, 
putting the power of information technology in the hands of people who 
would otherwise be denied access on economic grounds. According to the 
department of Commerce, less than 8 percent of central city homes in 
the northeast have computers with modems.
  Mr. Speaker, with all these services, the Queens Library also holds a 
very prestigious place among U.S. public libraries: It has the largest 
circulation of any library in our Nation, and the highest per capita 
use of New york City's three library systems.
  The Queens Library has favorable ratings that most of us in the 
political community envy. User surveys reveal that almost 90 percent of 
borough residents have a favorable opinion of the library and what it 
does for them. More than 60 percent of Queens children visit a Queens 
Library facility each year. Over 175,000 borough residents turned out 
for centennial events last month.
  Mr. Speaker, the Queens Library is a very special part of Queens as 
it touches more people than any other Queens service institution. I 
know my colleagues join me in paying tribute to the Queens Library 
today by wishing it a most sincere Happy Birthday and many more to 
come.

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