HR0316 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0316 LRB095 11903 GRL 35101 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to recognize the Des Plaines Public Library on the occasion of the Library's 100th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, The Des Plaines Public Library came into creation in 1907 when a $5,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie and a $500 per year stipend from the Des Plaines Village Board made its construction possible; a protracted campaign to Andrew Carnegie for funding, which lasted for two years, was started by Dr. C.A. Earle, who convinced Carnegie of a library's benefits to the community of Des Plaines; and

WHEREAS, The original library, dedicated on October 5, 1907, was located on the corner of Miner Street and Graceland Avenue and contained 725 books and periodicals in both English and German; in 1936 the library moved into the Des Plaines State Bank building at the corner of Lee Street and Ellinwood Street until the completion of the new Municipal Building in 1937; in June 1958 the library moved to a new building at Thacker Street and Graceland Avenue until September 2000, when its current location at 1501 Ellinwood Street was dedicated; and

WHEREAS, Today the library has over 300,000 items available and circulates more than one million items per year, with more than half a million people visiting the library annually; its location serves as an anchor for downtown development for the city of Des Plaines; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the citizens of Des Plaines, Library Director Sandra K. Norlin, and the employees of the Des Plaines Public Library on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Library; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Des Plaines Public Library Director Sandra K. Norlin.