[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5082]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL ADOPT A LIBRARY DAY

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 425, submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 425) designating April 23, 2012, as 
     ``National Adopt a Library Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to 
the measure be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 425) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 425

       Whereas libraries are an essential part of the communities 
     and the national system of education in the United States;
       Whereas the people of the United States benefit 
     significantly from libraries that serve as an open place for 
     people of all ages and backgrounds to use books and other 
     resources that offer pathways to learning, self-discovery, 
     and the pursuit of knowledge;
       Whereas libraries in the United States depend on the 
     generous donations and support of individuals and groups to 
     ensure that people who are unable to purchase books still 
     have access to a wide variety of resources;
       Whereas certain nonprofit organizations facilitate the 
     donation of books to schools and libraries across the United 
     States to extend the joy of reading to millions of people of 
     the United States and to prevent used books from being thrown 
     away;
       Whereas libraries in the United States have provided 
     valuable resources to individuals who are affected by the 
     economic crisis by encouraging continued education and job 
     training;
       Whereas libraries are increasingly being used as a resource 
     for those seeking the tools and information to enter or 
     reenter the workforce; and
       Whereas several States that recognize the importance of 
     libraries and reading have adopted resolutions commemorating 
     April 23 as ``Adopt a Library Day'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates April 23, 2012, as ``National Adopt a 
     Library Day'';
       (2) honors the organizations that facilitate donations to 
     schools and libraries;
       (3) urges all people of the United States who own unused 
     books to donate the books to local libraries;
       (4) strongly supports children and families who take 
     advantage of the resources provided by schools and libraries; 
     and
       (5) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     ``National Adopt A Library Day'' with appropriate ceremonies 
     and activities.

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