[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 42 (Tuesday, April 12, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING LINDA WOOD FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE AS ALAMEDA COUNTY LIBRARIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2005

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Linda Wood, upon 
her retirement as Alameda County, California's top librarian. After 14 
years at the helm of the county library system, with 10 branches and an 
annual budget of $21 million, Ms. Wood is stepping down from an 
extraordinary career.
  She has been working in the library field for almost 40 years and 
states, ``I'm proud of my accomplishments, but I'm ready to move on to 
the next phase of my life.''
  Ms. Wood began her library career reshelving books. After earning her 
degree in library science from the University of Washington, she 
graduated to reference librarian and went up the ladder from there. She 
has taken on many duties, from serving as branch manager to 
administrator in libraries from Oregon State to the cities of Riverside 
and Los Angeles.
  Ms. Wood leaves the Alameda County library system a lot bigger than 
she found it. Since being hired as county librarian in 1991, she has 
helped open two new branch libraries--in Albany, California in 1994 and 
Dublin, California in 2003 and has obtained seed funding and a patch of 
land for a new branch in Castro Valley, California.
  The county library system, with over 200 full-time employees, also 
includes branches in Fremont, Newark, Union City and unincorporated San 
Lorenzo, a bookmobile and services for jail and juvenile facility 
inmates and literacy and senior outreach programs.
  Ms. Wood has overseen a full-scale modernization of library services 
and fought to maintain services through ups and downs in funding. She 
fought for library services not only in Alameda County but also 
throughout the State of California.
  Today's collections have expanded from books and periodicals to 
include movies, CDs, DVDs and books on tape. Old card catalogues have 
given way to databases and now vast Internet services where patrons can 
research library holdings day and night.
  Throughout her illustrious career, Ms. Wood has demonstrated her 
longtime advocacy for libraries. Her advocacy has made a positive 
difference in strengthening many library systems for the public's 
education and enjoyment.
  I join Linda Wood's colleagues, friends and admirers in expressing 
good wishes as she retires and thank her for her contributions to our 
communities through libraries.

                          ____________________