[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 60 (Thursday, April 23, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E966]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           ACKNOWLEDGING AND COMMENDING NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2009

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, from April 12-18, 2009, our nation 
celebrated National Library Week and the vital role that these 
institutions and their dedicated staff play in supporting our 
communities. On April 22, 2009, the House of Representatives passed H. 
Res. 336, supporting the goals and ideals of National Library Week and 
encouraging Americans to take full advantage of these wonderful public 
resources.
  In Oregon, we pride ourselves on our strong community and a 
commitment to quality of life and education. Public libraries are a 
vital piece of this fabric and, in fact, Oregon has the second highest 
circulation of public library materials in the nation and the only 5-
star library in the Northwest. As the economic downturn has pushed 
family budgets to the brink, these resources are more important than 
ever. In addition to public reading and visual materials, libraries 
offer Internet and computer access for all, free of charge. Many also 
serve as community spaces for gatherings and events.
  Another library that deserves recognition is our very own Library of 
Congress. In 2008, to highlight the world-class work of this 
institution I formed the Library of Congress Caucus, now nearly 50 
Members strong. I have the distinct honor of co-chairing this 
bipartisan organization with my friend Congressman Zach Wamp. Our goal 
is to draw further attention to the nation's library, its collections 
and curators, and to encourage further use by Members of Congress and 
the public alike.
  The Library of Congress not only houses the much-appreciated 
Congressional Research Service, it also offers 1.6 million visitors 
access to 15 million primary-source documents and operates the 
Veteran's History Project and the Surplus Books Program. One of my 
favorite programs, the Surplus Books Program is an innovative book 
donation program, through which Members may send library materials to 
the schools and libraries in their home district. At a time when 
funding for libraries is scarce, this is a simple way to reduce book 
waste and distribute excess resources to our communities and schools 
where they are needed most.
  I strongly encourage members to take advantage of these extraordinary 
programs and resources, and congratulate all our nation's libraries, 
librarians, and library-enthusiasts.

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