[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 13, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HENIKA DISTRICT 
                      LIBRARY IN WAYLAND, MICHIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PETER HOEKSTRA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 13, 1999

  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
officially recognize the 100th anniversary of the Henika District 
Library, located in Wayland, Michigan, part of the Second Congressional 
District, which I represent.
  The Henika Library was established in 1899 as a legacy of Mrs. Julia 
Henika, who upon her death left $2,000 to the Wayland Ladies Library 
Association for the construction of a library. Aided by contributions 
from Mrs. Henika's husband, George, and her mother, Mary Forbes, this 
picturesque library formally opened in 1900.
  Initially, the library was run by the independent Library Association 
for many years before turning it over to the village of Wayland. At 
that time, the facility's first paid librarian, Miss Fannie Hoyt, was 
hired. She served in her position until the 1940s, when she was 
succeeded by Dorothy Peterson, who served as librarian until 1975. 
Barbara Crofoot then became the library's third head librarian and 
served for 10 years until she was succeeded by the current librarian, 
Lynn Mandaville.
  Henika Library has served the Wayland area as a source of information 
and entertainment from the Gilded Age to the Information Age. The 
original building was first expanded in 1968 with an addition in the 
rear with a full basement, effectively tripling the size of the 
facility. A reading room was created the next year by enclosing the 
front porch.
  In the early 1990s, the building received a complete makeover, inside 
and out, with financial assistance from the Wayland Downtown 
Development Authority, an outstate equity grant and contributions from 
the city of Wayland and Wayland Township. This remodeling made the 
library ready for the 21st century by providing public access 
computers, an online card catalog and public access to the Internet. In 
addition, a local company, Ampro Industries, donated several thousand 
dollars to remodel the basement children's library.
  Today, Henika District Library continues to serve the community in 
the same manner Julia Henika envisioned a century ago. I am proud to 
honor her memory and the hard work and dedication of so many people to 
make that vision a reality.

                          ____________________