[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 5974]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             CAPITAL AREA DISTRICT LIBRARY 10TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, since the first library society was formed 
in Detroit in 1817, libraries have played a central role in the 
cultural and economic development of the people of Michigan. Nearly 200 
years after that first foray into book-sharing, libraries have spread 
across our State. Today I would like to take a moment to recognize the 
Capital Area District Library in Ingham County, which is celebrating a 
decade of enriching the Lansing area, and in doing so has continued the 
long history of libraries making important contributions to our State.
  The Capital Area District Library system plays a significant role in 
the early stages of learning for children in Lansing, and provides 
important resources for continuing education for adults. The 13 
libraries and the book mobile are places where all are welcome to 
access and pursue a wealth of information. Patrons can work on their 
own, in organized programs, or with the assistance of the highly 
effective library staff, who are focused on promoting learning and 
enjoyment.
  The resources available through the Capital Area District Library 
also play a critical role in economic development. Considering that 
more than half of all American households do not have computers or 
Internet access, the Capital Area District Library resources are more 
important than ever to connect our citizens to technology and 
information in this rapidly changing world.
  Thomas Jefferson once wrote to John Adams, ``I cannot live without 
books.'' Books and education were a bedrock of life for our Nation's 
Founding Fathers and of our democracy; books and education and new 
learning resources that the Founding Fathers could not have imagined 
must be readily available to citizens across the country. The Capital 
Area District Library continues to fulfill this need in Lansing and 
Ingham County, and has done so for 10 years with remarkable 
effectiveness. I congratulate all who have worked so hard on this 
venture, and extend my deepest appreciation for their service to the 
citizens of our State.

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