[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E751]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WEST CALDWELL PUBLIC LIBRARY

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                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 19, 2015

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the West 
Caldwell Public Library, located in the Township of West Caldwell, New 
Jersey as it celebrates its 100th Anniversary.
  The West Caldwell Public Library, founded by the request of Julia H. 
Potwin, is an important piece of communal life in the Township of West 
Caldwell. Families, friends, and students gather at the Library to 
conduct research, enjoy literary works, and socialize. The Library, 
located on the first floor of the West Caldwell Municipal Building, is 
at the center of West Caldwell life, and offers a myriad of books, 
catalogs, and reference materials. The Library holds an important 
public function in serving the community through literary means, and is 
enjoyed by many.
  Originally known as the Julia H. Potwin Memorial Library, this 
library was created by the request of Julia Potwin, the daughter of 
Nathaniel S. Crane. Although Julia never saw the construction of the 
Library, she requested in her will that a library be built. She issued 
specific instructions as to how it should look and function, and also 
left her extensive book collection to the Library. Julia sought to 
create a library that served a more integral role in her community. 
According to the Library's President of the Board of Trustees, her 
ideas were not common views of what a library should be. Julia wanted 
her library to be more personal than average libraries, as evident by 
her request for the Library to include a living room and a place for 
the caretaker to sleep.
  The West Caldwell Public Library currently offers a variety of 
programs for adults, which include Friday afternoon movies, concerts, 
dramatic presentations, book discussions, and a Summer Reading program. 
These activities represent the Library's mission of upholding 
principles of intellectual freedom and the public's 'right to know.' 
Included within the Library's collection are 40,000 book titles, 200 
magazines and periodicals, and a large selection of DVDs and CDs.
  As part of its success in functioning as a communal gathering place 
for West Caldwell residents, the Library holds a teen advisory group, 
family story time, sing and dance events, and seminars on Social 
Security. The Library continues Julia Potwin's idiosyncratic vision of 
what a library should be by functioning as more than just a place to 
check out books.
  To celebrate 100 successful years of offering the public a center for 
learning, the West Caldwell Public Library has planned several events, 
with the incorporation of the slogan ``Celebrate the Past, Create the 
Future.'' Among these events is a concert titled ``100 Years of 
American Music,'' featuring the Jane Stuart Ensemble as well as a 
reading from Julia Potwin's personal diary. Both of these events 
encompass the Library's constant dedication to acknowledging the past 
while also cultivating the future.
  I commend the members and Board of Trustees of the West Caldwell 
Public Library, especially Library Manager Karen Kelly, for their 
dedication to serving the people of West Caldwell. The Library is a 
special place for all and will continue to function as a public forum 
for learning.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
the West Caldwell Public Library as it celebrates its 100th 
Anniversary.

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