[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING RETIRING DIRECTOR OF THE BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY PUBLIC 
                   LIBRARY SYSTEM MICHAEL C. MAHANEY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BRIAN HIGGINS-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Mr. 
Michael C. Mahaney, Director of the Buffalo and Erie County Public 
Library System, whose exemplary service will conclude on January 4, 
2008.
  Mr. Mahaney began his involvement with the Buffalo and Erie County 
Public Library (B&ECPL) in December of 1973 as a Library Page in the 
Central Library's Stack Department. In 1976, he received his Master of 
Library Science degree from the State University of New York at 
Buffalo, and began working as a part-time Librarian at the Fairfield, 
Mead and Kensington Branch Libraries before being appointed to a full-
time Librarian position in the Central Library's Business and Labor 
Department.
  Mr. Mahaney's love of the library system and his natural leadership 
abilities soon propelled him to more senior positions within the 
B&ECPL, including liaison to the Erie County Legislature, Library 
constituents, local and regional media and the Library Board of 
Trustees, and Chairman of the Library's long range planning committee. 
He was also an active member of the New York Library Association and 
American Library Association, frequently representing the Buffalo and 
Erie County Public Library on committees and task forces and at various 
state and national conferences.
  In January 2000, Mr. Mahaney was promoted to the post of Deputy 
Director, Chief Operating Officer of the B&ECPL, responsible for the 
administration of all Library public support and planning functions and 
played a critical role in the development of the Library's strategic 
plan.
  Following a national recruitment effort in January 2003, Mr. Mahaney 
was chosen overwhelmingly by the Library's Board of Trustees to serve 
as permanent Director of the B&ECPL. During this time, he was 
instrumental in guiding the community through the reorganization of the 
Library in the aftermath of Erie County's worst budget crisis in 
history.
  In his last year as Director of the B&ECPL, Mr. Mahaney oversaw a 
$500,000 increase in county funding and the passage of the Library 
Protection Act, a local law safeguarding library funds after the 
county's annual budget is adopted, a goal library officials had sought 
for 14 years.
  Madam Speaker, it is my honor to stand here today to pay tribute to 
the inspired leadership and remarkable contributions of Michael C. 
Mahaney during his 34 years of dedicated service to the Buffalo and 
Erie County Public Library System. I thank you, Madam Speaker, for 
allowing me this opportunity to honor Mr. Mahaney's past service and 
ask you and the rest of our colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. 
Mahaney the very best of health and success in the years to come.

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