[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23261]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING THE HARTFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY

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                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 19, 2002

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute 
to the Hartford Public Library as one of only six recipients of this 
year's National Award for Museum and Library Service.
  The Hartford Public Library's Chief Librarian, Ms. Louise Blalock, 
and the Board President, Mr. Paul Shipman, recently attended an awards 
ceremony at the White House during which First Lady Laura Bush 
presented them with the citation for their innovative efforts to expand 
the Library's services to the community. The Hartford Public Library 
received the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) award, in 
part, for developing community partners and innovative programs to 
address current educational, social, economic and environmental issues. 
Major partnerships developed by the Library include the Partnership 
Library, the Integrated Library Information and Management System and 
the Creating Readers program.
  The National Award for Library Service was established in 2000 and is 
the only national award of its kind to recognize the public service 
record of America's libraries. The award is presented in conjunction 
with the National Award for Museum Services, which was established in 
1994.
  This year the Hartford Public Library has truly transformed the 
traditional meaning of a library with the development and installation 
of its ``Community Information Database''. The Hartford Public Library 
has responded directly to the needs of Hartford residents by compiling 
this database with such helpful information as employment 
opportunities, social services, and neighborhood council reports.
  In addition to its model partnership with the Hartford Public System 
in which it has helped schools achieve curriculum goals for language 
development, the Library has forged a stronger relationship with the 
Hartford community this year by connecting all its residents to a 
distinguished collection of books, technology, social services, and 
community expertise.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in offering my most 
sincere congratulations to the Hartford Public Library for its 
exemplary service to Hartford and Connecticut's First Congressional 
District and for setting an example for innovation and excellence for 
libraries across the country.

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