[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 102 (Thursday, June 19, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF THE 140TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE YPSILANTI DISTRICT LIBRARY

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                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 19, 2008

  Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Ypsilanti 
district library and to commemorate its 140 years of service to the 
Ypsilanti community. In 1868, only 31 years after Michigan became a 
State, a group of three women who were committed to promoting reading 
and literacy founded the library in the small room of a building on 
Huron St. It began with only 175 books, and today has expanded to three 
branches with a collection of over 300,000 volumes.
  In addition to this impressive collection of reading material, the 
library provides other outstanding services to the community. It offers 
classes on computer skills and specific software programs, which 
provide participants with the tools they need to succeed in this 
technology-driven world. Last year, the library ran over 1,000 youth-
oriented programs, which reached over 24,000 people in the Ypsilanti 
area. The Ypsilanti Library's ``Tumblebooks'' program provides animated 
picture books online for young children, which promotes early reading 
skills. Such services are invaluable in Michigan, as they help combat 
illiteracy while sparking a child's imagination and desire to continue 
learning.
  Libraries offer themselves as a tremendous resource to those who are 
learning to read and those who love to read. Without libraries many 
young children would not have access to new books or computers with 
access to the Internet. I have always believed that teaching children 
to read provides them with an important lifelong tool. The Ypsilanti 
district library should be commended for what it has done to further 
this cause.
  I am proud of the Ypsilanti library's many contributions to 
Michigan's 15th Congressional district and ask my colleagues to join me 
in congratulating the library on 140 wonderful years of service.

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