[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 204 (Thursday, December 14, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1704-E1705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING MS. PAM VAN KIRK FOR BEING NAMED AN ILLINOIS LIBRARY 
                           LUMINARY FOR 2017

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHERI BUSTOS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 14, 2017

  Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Pam Van 
Kirk for being named an Illinois Library Luminary for 2017.
  Pam Van Kirk's library career started at sixteen years old with 
typing catalog cards at the

[[Page E1705]]

Western Illinois Library System. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from 
Monmouth College and a Master's in Library Science from Rosary College. 
In 1998, Pam became the director of the Galesburg Public Library after 
working in school libraries in Illinois and Colorado for 19 years. In 
2010, she retired as director of the Galesburg Public Library to serve 
as president of the Illinois Library Association in 2012 and 2013.
  Pam was a member of the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce and served 
on the board of the Downtown Galesburg Business Association. She also 
served on the board of directors for the Illinois Center for the Book 
and the Alliance Library System, where she participated in regional and 
statewide library conferences. Pam has been named Administrator of the 
Year by the Alliance Library System and a Paul Harris Fellow for her 
contributions to Galesburg. She has served as a mentor to many 
librarians. Her cheerful and determined attitude has made a positive 
impact on the Illinois library community.
  I'm very proud of Pam's work and am pleased she has gained the title 
of Illinois Library Luminary. Mr. Speaker, I want to again formally 
congratulate Pam on her award, and I join the rest of our community to 
wish her every success in the future.

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