[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RIVERHEAD FREE LIBRARY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LEE M. ZELDIN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2016

  Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay a special tribute to 
honor the Riverhead Free Library's 120 years of service to the 
community.
  Whether it is the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, or the 
community libraries in our home districts, it is important we recognize 
the tremendous value provided, even in today's technology-driven 
society. Since the earliest human civilizations, libraries have served 
as locations where information has been safe-guarded and preserved, in 
the hopes that future generations are able to read and learn about the 
events of that time period. Today, our libraries' services to local 
communities are invaluable, providing important information to our 
constituents, and serving as meeting locations where people gather or 
relax and unwind. Libraries are also crucial to ensuring younger 
generations have access to information for school assignments and 
otherwise expand their knowledge base.
  The Riverhead Free Library was organized and founded on April 4, 
1896. The word ``free'' holds special significance, as it meant that 
all community residents of the time could borrow books without charge. 
The Library helped to grow and develop the diverse and bountiful 
community that Riverhead has become today. This service continues into 
the present, where members of the community go to utilize the wealth of 
information the library contains, and learn about the great ideas of 
both past and present. Today, the Library is chartered to serve over 
32,000 residents of the Riverhead Central School District, and more 
than a dozen towns on the East End of Long Island.
  It is my distinct honor to represent the Riverhead Free Library in 
the First Congressional District of New York, and I am grateful for all 
of the services it provides to my constituents. 120 years of service to 
the public is no simple feat. It is only through the hard-work and 
dedication of its employees, and the tireless hours spent overseeing 
its maintenance and preservation, that have made the library the great 
center of learning and knowledge it is today. I would like to thank the 
employees of the Riverhead Free Library and the community of Riverhead 
for helping to preserve such a significant and special place in my 
district.

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