[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7551]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO THE LIBRARY OF THE CHATHAMS

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                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 22, 2007

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Library 
of the Chathams serving Chatham Borough and Chatham Township, Morris 
County, New Jersey, vibrant communities that I am proud to represent! 
On June 9, 2007, the good citizens of the township and borough will 
celebrate their library's 100th Anniversary with an old fashioned ice 
cream social.
  On June 1, 1907, the Chatham Public Library opened in the new Borough 
Hall and Fire House at 10 Fairmount Avenue and the first library card 
was issued. In 1920, the library moved to the corner of Fairmount 
Avenue and Main Street because there was a trolley stop there and 
display windows for books. The library moved again in 1924, this time 
to the Fairview Hotel site, where it remains today.
  By 1932, there were 2,415 registered borrowers, more than 50 percent 
of the population. In 1957, the library held 27,500 books, 100 
periodicals, foreign language records, musical and dramatic recordings, 
art reproductions, a Great Books Club, Horne Reader service, Storyhour, 
Storytime, and a playpen.
  Two wings were added to the original 1924 building in the early 
sixties, the first was the west wing to house the Children's collection 
and the second was the east wing to house the Adult and Young Adult 
collections.
  A major change took place in 1975. After several years of 
discussions, meetings and presentations, a referendum was placed on the 
November, 1975 ballot, asking for approval of jointure--to form a 
library serving both towns. It passed and on January 1, 1975, the 
Chatham Public Library became the Joint Free Public Library of the 
Chathams. All residents and those working in the Chathams are entitled 
to free borrowing privileges. The Library is tax supported on a per 
capita basis by both municipalities, and administered by six jointly 
appointed trustees with 5 year terms, a representative of the school 
system and both mayors or their representative.
  1985 saw the Library become fully automated in MAIN (Morris Automated 
Information Network) which joins all Morris County libraries by 
computer database. Renovations and additions have occurred on a regular 
basis, the last being one for more than $4 million, which opened to the 
public on January 11, 2004. Today approximately 182,000 items are 
circulated annually, and 9,668 cards are in existence!
  Madam Speaker, I urge you and my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating the Library of the Chathams on the celebration of its 
100th Anniversary!

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