[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5382]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize National 
Library Week and pay tribute to those dedicated individuals who, 
through their passion for books and learning, make our libraries places 
of great discovery.
  If a child wants to know everything there is to know about space, you 
could send them up there in a rocket ship. If they're interested in 
tornadoes, you could send them out after one with a crew of storm 
chasers. If they'd like to meet George Washington, you could even send 
them back in time. You could--if you just knew how.
  Or, you could send them to the library instead.
  National Library Week is April 9-15, and there's no better place than 
our libraries for bringing the world and the events that shape it--past 
and present--to life. Fortunately, a child doesn't need any special 
gadgets to experience all the library has to offer; they just need a 
library card.
  As Congress debates important issues like the federal budget and how 
to save Social Security, the library is also an excellent place for 
young people to learn more about government and what's happening in 
Washington. And of course, the librarians are always there to help.
  On the occasion of National Library Week, I urge all Americans to 
check out a book--and ``check out'' all the riches their local library 
has to offer.

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