[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 58 (Thursday, April 10, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5165-S5166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK
Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, as a strong supporter of Federal
programs to strengthen and protect libraries, I am pleased to recognize
April 6 to 12 as National Library Week. This is the 45th anniversary of
this national observance, and its longevity is evidence of the great
importance our Nation places on libraries, books, reading, and
education.
National Library Week grew out of 1950s research that showed a
troublesome trend Americans were spending more money on radios and
television and less on buying books. The American Library Association
and the American Book Publishers joined forces and introduced the first
National Library Week in 1958 in an effort to encourage people to read
and to use their libraries.
When the free public library came into its own in this country in the
19th century, it was, from the beginning, a unique institution because
of its commitment to the principle of a free and open exchange of
ideas, much like the Constitution itself. Libraries continue to be an
integral part of all that our country embodies: freedom of information,
an educated citizenry, and an open and enlightened society.
I firmly believe libraries play an indispensable role in our
communities. They promote reading and quench a thirst for knowledge
among adults, adolescents, and children. More importantly, they provide
the access and resources to allow citizens to obtain timely and
reliable information that is so necessary in our fast-paced society. In
this age of rapid technological advancement, libraries are called upon
to provide not only books and periodicals, but many other valuable
resources as well--audiovisual materials, computer services, internet
access terminals, facilities for community lectures and performances,
tapes, records, videocassettes, and works of art for exhibit and loan
to the public.
Libraries provide a gateway to a new and exciting world for all--the
place where a spark is often struck for disadvantaged citizens who, for
whatever reason, have not had exposure to the vast stores of knowledge
and emerging technology available to others. In this information age,
they play a critical role in bridging the digital divide. Many families
cannot afford personal computers at home, yet the role of computers has
become almost necessary to a basic educational experience. The children
of these families would suffer without the access to emerging
technology that libraries provide to all patrons regardless of income.
In addition, special facilities libraries provide services for older
Americans, people with disabilities, and hospitalized citizens.
During National Library Week, I wish to salute those individuals who
are members of the library community and work so hard to ensure that
our citizens and communities continue to enjoy the tremendous rewards
available through our libraries. Library staff, volunteers, and patrons
work to ensure existing libraries run smoothly and have adequate
resources, as well as advocate for increased funding and new libraries.
I am proud that Maryland is a State of readers. Recent statistics
show that Maryland citizens borrowed more public library materials per
person than those of almost any other State, nearly 9 per person. In
addition, 67 percent of the State's population are registered library
patrons. We are lucky to have 24 public library systems, providing a
full range of library services to all Maryland citizens and a long
tradition of open and unrestricted sharing of resources. The State
Library Network that provides interlibrary loans to the State's public,
academic, special libraries, and school library media centers has
enhanced this policy. Marylanders have responded to this outstanding
service by showing their continued enthusiasm and support for our
public libraries.
I have worked closely with members of the Maryland Library
Association, colleges and universities, and others involved in the
library community throughout the State, and I am very pleased to join
with them and citizens throughout the Nation in this week's celebration
of National Library Week.
[[Page S5166]]
I look forward to continuing this relationship with those who enable
libraries to provide the unique and vital services available to all
Americans.
I ask unanimous consent that the attached op-ed by Carla Hayden,
``Don't Take Libraries for Granted,'' be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
[From the Baltimore Sun, Apr. 9, 2003]
Don't Take Libraries for Granted
(By Carla D. Hayden)
Americans have several beacons of light in what seem to be
dark and fearful times, among them libraries.
The Enoch Pratt Free Library is proud to join the American
Library Association in celebrating all that libraries have to
offer during National Library Week this week.
Every day, more than 120,000 librarians nationwide connect
students, families, senior citizens, businesspeople, teachers
and professors with the information they need to be
successful in a swiftly changing and increasingly troubled
era.
Americans rely on libraries for help in finding jobs, using
the Internet, demystifying technology, getting free access to
thousands of books and videotapes and connecting with their
neighbors and colleagues. And this couldn't be more relevant
in Baltimore City, where more than 23 percent of our
residents live at or below the poverty level.
The staff at the Pratt works to meet the needs of the
community by providing seminars on race relations, building
personal assets, entrepreneurship, computer training and
more.
As the State Library Resource Center for Maryland, the
Pratt is dedicated to assisting residents across the state in
finding information they need 24 hours a day, seven days a
week. We are a major support of the new ``Ask Us Now''
statewide library reference service, an invaluable resource.
And it's all free of charge.
Librarians are committed to freedom of access to
information and are fighting to ensure that such freedom
remains intact so that no one is afraid to search for answers
to important questions. It is often easy to take our
libraries and librarians for granted.
Carla D. Hayden is the executive director of the Enoch
Pratt Free Library and president-elect of the American
Library Association.
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