[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 114 (Monday, June 22, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3125-S3126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      TRIBUTE TO CAROLYN ASHCRAFT

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Carolyn 
Ashcraft on her retirement as State librarian and director of the 
Arkansas State Library after 15 years of transformative leadership.
  Carolyn has a dedication to the State of Arkansas and a passion for 
books, and her departure from a career that blended the two will leave 
a significant void in Arkansas' library community. Her enthusiasm for 
libraries has been evident since childhood, leading to an invitation to 
serve as a student library aide in sixth grade. She went on to serve in 
a similar position at the university level while earning her degree in 
English at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. She continued her 
education at the University of Alabama, where she earned a master's 
degree in library science. In 1981, Carolyn launched her professional 
career at the Grant County Library and next served as director at the 
Saline County Library. She held this position until she started with 
the Arkansas State Library in 1993, where she served in various 
positions, including deputy director in the library development unit 
before being selected as State librarian in 2005.
  Carolyn's career and the accomplishments of the Arkansas library 
system

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during her tenure as State librarian testify to her dedication and 
influential direction. Under her guidance, our libraries adapted 
emerging technologies. She helped facilitate the transition to 
digitization, expanding digital programs such as the Traveler Statewide 
Digital Resource Program and establishing the Arkansas Digital Library 
Consortium in 2018. She also oversaw the relocation of the agency and 
its collection of books, State and Federal documents, Library for the 
Blind materials, and other documents.
  Carolyn is known for having an unrivaled and encompassing knowledge 
of libraries, as evidenced by her involvement in both State and 
national professional library associations. The list of such 
organizations is lengthy and includes the Arkansas Library Association, 
American Library Association, the Association for Rural and Small 
Libraries, and Chief Officers of State Library Agencies.
  I thank Carolyn for her contributions to Arkansas during her career 
of dedicated service, guidance, and support of our public libraries and 
library services. She will be missed, but I am confident she will enjoy 
her time in retirement.

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