[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H4613-H4615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           ACKNOWLEDGING AND COMMENDING NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK

  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 336) supporting the goals and ideals of National 
Library Week.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 336

       Whereas the Nation's school, academic, public, and special 
     libraries make a difference in the lives of millions of 
     people in the United States, today, more than ever;
       Whereas librarians are trained professionals, helping 
     people of all ages and backgrounds find and interpret the 
     information they need to live, learn, and work in a 
     challenging economy;
       Whereas libraries are part of the American Dream, places 
     for opportunity, education, self-help, and lifelong learning;
       Whereas according to a December 2008 National Center for 
     Education Statistics (NCES) report, public library use 
     increased to 1,400,000,000 visits nationwide during fiscal 
     year 2006, among all types of library users, continuing a 
     long term trend of increased library usage;
       Whereas libraries play a vital role in supporting the 
     quality of life in their communities;

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       Whereas libraries help people of all ages discover a world 
     of knowledge, both in person and online, as well as provide 
     personal service and assistance in finding needed 
     information;
       Whereas libraries are a key player in the national 
     discourse on intellectual freedom and equity of access;
       Whereas libraries are narrowing the ``digital divide'', by 
     providing no-fee public computer and Internet access to 
     accommodate the growing need for access to digital and online 
     information, including e-government, continuing education, 
     and employment opportunities; and
       Whereas libraries, librarians, library workers, and 
     supporters across the United States celebrated National 
     Library Week, April 12-18, 2009, with The Campaign for 
     America's Libraries: Now, therefore, be it
         Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
         (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Library 
     Week; and
         (2) encourages all residents to visit a library to take 
     advantage of the wonderful library resources available, and 
     to thank their librarians and library workers for making 
     information accessible to all who walk through the library's 
     doors.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Tonko) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous 
materials on House Resolution 336 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
336, which encourages all Americans to take advantage of the numerous 
resources libraries make available.
  All across the country, libraries have developed communities by 
bringing people of all nationalities, ages and socioeconomic levels 
together to enjoy the pleasures of literature, media and new 
technology. Libraries foster national discourse on intellectual freedom 
and provide informational equity across our great Nation.
  Not only do libraries provide free resources, but they preserve 
historical artifacts and information highlighting societal 
achievements. Today, we have over 123 libraries nationwide playing a 
vital role in creating vibrant, energized communities. For example, the 
Big Read is a national reading program designed to revitalize the role 
of reading in America, and 208 communities participate in the Big Read 
program nationwide. American libraries play a central role fostering 
community participation.
  There is also the National Book Festival sponsored by our very own 
Library of Congress. Representatives from State libraries gather at the 
Nation's Capital to promote reading and literacy in all of our 50 
States. Last September, the 8th annual National Book Festival was a 
huge success. Hundreds of people gathered to promote reading to 
children, including professional athletes, actors, and famous writers, 
authors and poets.
  The Library of Congress is also a great resource for the public. As 
the largest library in the world, the Library of Congress holds more 
than 120 million items on approximately 530 miles of book shelves. The 
collections include more than 18 million books, 2.5 million recordings, 
12 million photographs, 4.5 million maps and 54 million manuscripts. 
The massive resource provided by this library to this country is indeed 
a bit of invaluable information.
  National Library Week continues to commend librarians who help the 
public to interpret the information they need to live, to learn, and to 
navigate their way in today's challenging and complicated economy.

                              {time}  1230

  By providing free educational opportunities and a safe place for 
lifelong learning, libraries and librarians help people achieve the 
American Dream. With that said, ultimately libraries help people 
explore curiosities and make sense of this complex world.
  I do want to thank Representative Ehlers for his leadership and 
bringing this important resolution forward.
  Again, I want to extend my gratitude toward libraries for their 
important work in our communities. I ask my colleagues to support this 
important resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  First of all, Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Congressman Grijalva, 
who is the principal majority party cosponsor of this resolution. He 
has a deep interest in libraries as well.
  I also wanted to say that I am a great fan of libraries for a number 
of reasons. First of all, I have served on a city library board, on a 
county library board, on the board of the State Library of Michigan, 
and also, through my service on the House Administration Committee, I 
have been on the committee governing the Library of Congress. But the 
main reason is that, when I was a young child, I was quite ill and 
could not attend school. This gave me a lot of spare time, and I read 
between six and eight books a week. I was totally dependent on the 
library for those books, so twice a week I would trudge down to the 
library--which was only open 2 days a week--and haul out a pile of 
books which I could read. So I fully appreciate the importance of 
libraries. There is another factor as well. My daughter, Marla, is 
Assistant Director of the Grand Rapids Public Library in my hometown 
and keeps me fully informed about library affairs. And so I say all 
this in preface as to why I introduced the resolution and why it is so 
important that we recognize libraries.
  First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national 
observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries 
across the States. This is done every year in April. It is a time to 
celebrate the contributions of our Nation's libraries and librarians 
and to promote library use and support.
  In the mid 1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less 
time on books and more on radio, television, and musical instruments. 
Concerned that Americans were reading less, a nonprofit citizens' 
organization called the National Book Committee formed in 1954. The 
committee's goals were ambitious and ranged from encouraging people to 
read in their increasing leisure time, to improving incomes and health 
and developing a strong and happy family life.
  In 1957, the committee developed a plan for National Library Week 
based on the idea that once people were motivated to read, they would 
support and use libraries. With cooperation from various organizations, 
the first National Library Week was observed in 1958 with the theme, 
``Wake Up and Read!''
  This year's theme, ``Worlds Connect at Your Library,'' highlights how 
libraries are narrowing the digital divide by providing no-fee public 
computer and Internet access to meet the growing needs for access to 
digital and online information, including e-government, continuing 
education and employment opportunities.
  I can vouch for the big changes in libraries. Last year, I visited my 
daughter's library--perhaps, I should say the Grand Rapids Public 
Library--and I was just amazed at the number of computers available to 
the public, and every single computer was in use. I would say there 
were at least a dozen there, and people working heartily on them. This 
has become even more important with the unemployment situation because 
many workers don't have their own computer and they have to go to the 
library to polish up their resume, look online for jobs, and so forth. 
So the library's usefulness has continued to grow over the years.
  Libraries truly play a vital role in supporting the quality of life 
in their communities. They help us discover a world of knowledge, both 
in person and online, and are a key player in the national discourse on 
intellectual freedom and the equity of access. In fact, according to 
the National Center for Education Statistics, library use was up to 1.3 
billion visits last year nationwide among all types of library users, 
continuing a long-term trend of increased library usage.
  By recognizing National Library Week, we show our appreciation to 
libraries, librarians, library workers, and supporters across America. 
I also should mention that we should at this point recognize and 
mention the support that Andrew Carnegie gave to libraries initially. 
When he began giving

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away his fortune, much of it went to libraries across the country, and 
you will find Carnegie libraries throughout our Nation, including in my 
hometown.
  I am honored to support this resolution. I ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognizing the great contributions of libraries and librarians.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TONKO. I again want to thank Mr. Ehlers for the inspiration to 
pay tribute to the libraries across this country. They are, indeed, 
very valuable components of the education infrastructure in this 
country. They obviously provide tremendous opportunity to individuals 
throughout this country without any sort of prejudice.
  I am reminded of the powerful library in my hometown of Amsterdam, 
New York, and the wonderful countywide system that is part of 
Schenectady County, with several sites within their library structure.
  And so it is, indeed, very appropriate that we recognize the 
contribution that libraries, and more specifically, librarians, make to 
our society and the development of the intellectual capacity and 
character of our society.
  With that, I encourage passage of the resolution.
  Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give tribute to the all-
American public library upon completion of National Library Week. It 
was a week filled with activities and celebration designed to highlight 
the important role libraries and librarians play in our lives.
  Based on a theme of ``Worlds connect @ your library,'' libraries 
across the nation hosted contests and presentations to educate and 
entertain readers of all ages. Since 1958, National Library Week has 
been part of the American Library Association's goal of ``encouraging 
people to read in their increasing leisure time.'' It was and has been 
an impressive goal and today we see libraries full of readers, taking 
on new challenges and expanding the education of their communities. 
This week was an opportunity to bring in new library patrons and to 
encourage reading as part of everyday life.
  Former First Lady, Laura Bush, herself a librarian by profession, 
once said this of our libraries: ``Libraries allow children to ask 
questions about the world and find the answers. And the wonderful thing 
is that once a child learns to use a library, the doors to learning are 
always open.''
  Mr. Speaker, I speak today to honor the work libraries and librarians 
provide not only children but all in their communities. They are more 
than buildings that house books and people that help us find resources. 
They are places to discover and imagine with neighbors gladly serving 
their fellow citizens in an expanding and challenging world.
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 336.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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