[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 72 (Thursday, May 20, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S5945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               FRIENDS OF THE DES PLAINES PUBLIC LIBRARY

 Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I want to honor The Friends of the 
Des Plaines Public Library, an organization that has been serving the 
Des Plaines community for the past 50 years.
  The Friends of the Des Plaines Public Library was founded in April 
1954 by a planning committee of the northwest suburban branch of the 
American Association of University Women and members of several parent 
organizations from Des Plaines area schools.
  The initial objectives of The Friends of the Des Plaines Public 
Library were to stimulate interest in the library and record historical 
data for the town of Des Plaines. Much of the historical data first 
recorded by The Friends has since become part of the collection of the 
Des Plaines Historical Society.
  Over the course of the past 50 years, The Friends of the Des Plaines 
Public Library has come to play an invaluable role in the ongoing 
operations of the institution and community they serve. Members have 
volunteered to straighten book shelves, provided rainy day plastic bags 
to help protect books on loan, and held voter registration drives.
  The Friends of the Des Plaines Public Library holds ongoing book 
sales to provide financial support to the library, enabling the library 
to purchase additional resources and provide educational programming 
for the citizens of Des Plaines. In the past, the proceeds of these 
book sales have enabled the library to purchase computers and audio 
visual equipment.
  I congratulate the Friends of the Des Plaines Public Library as it 
celebrates its 50th anniversary. I am confident that this organization 
will continue its long tradition of promoting and fostering a lifelong 
commitment to reading and education in the community of Des Plaines 
long into the future.

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