[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13332]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          LIBRARY OF THE YEAR

 Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, it is with the greatest pleasure 
that I rise today to honor the Fayetteville Public Library which was 
recently named the 2005 ``Library of the Year'' by Thompson Gale and 
Library Journal. The Library of the Year Award honors the library that 
is most dedicated to community service through its creativity and 
leadership. Thompson Gale and Library Journal will present a check for 
$10,000 to the Fayetteville Public Library later this month during the 
American Library Association's annual conference in Chicago, IL.
  I would like to recognize Louise Schapter, Executive Director of the 
Fayetteville Public Library, and her outstanding staff for their 
commitment to providing such a quality community resource to the 
citizens of Northwest Arkansas. During Ms. Schapter's tenure, library 
usage has soared. Visits have increased from 192,179 to 576,773, 
checkouts have risen from 271,187 to 718,159, program attendance has 
grown from 14,448 to 41,658, and cardholders have leaped from 15,662 to 
48,419. What a remarkable accomplishment!
  I would also like to mention that the library has more than 160 
regular volunteers who deliver books to the homebound, shelve and cover 
books, staff the computer lab and conduct various programs. This 
involvement by the community is truly commendable and makes all of us 
in Arkansas proud.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Fayetteville 
Public Library on receiving this well-deserved honor.

                          ____________________