HR1097 LRB094 20034 HSS 57577 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Gail Borden Public Library District was recently
3 named the North Suburban Library System's Library of the Year;
4 and
 
5     WHEREAS, Gail Borden Public Library was founded with an
6 innovative and community spirit; Gail Borden, the library's
7 namesake, invented condensed milk to improve public health
8 standards; innovation and a strong sense of community continue
9 to be hallmarks of the library to this day as it continues to
10 reaffirm that a public library is a vibrant community center;
11 and
 
12     WHEREAS, Throughout Gail Borden Library's history, there
13 have been many firsts: the first public library in Illinois to
14 adopt an optical scanner for checkout of materials (1974); the
15 first library in the country to create a center for
16 preschoolers, offering intellectual and social stimulation in
17 a creative, hands-on environment (1977); one of the first
18 libraries in the country to install a fiber optic network,
19 linking the library with the City, Elgin Community College,
20 School District U46, and the local cable company (1996); other
21 distinguishing hallmarks include service to the Hispanic
22 population, dating from the mid-1970s with the addition of
23 Spanish-language materials and a bilingual staff member, and
24 formation of a steering committee which led to the creation of
25 Literacy Volunteers of America/Elgin affiliate (1984), which
26 continues to offer tutoring for adult new readers; and
 
27     WHEREAS, An integral part of the educational community, the
28 library continually seeks to provide cooperative programs and
29 to share expertise; this can range from class visits to book
30 talks for school library colleagues or mentoring a library
31 school intern; this year, the library's ReaderShip van visited
32 254 preschools and day care centers, providing stories, puppet

 

 

HR1097 - 2 - LRB094 20034 HSS 57577 r

1 shows, and music for children as well as reading tips for
2 teachers and parents; the Youth Services Department hosted a
3 two-week educational series on poetry for Hamilton Wings, an
4 art-based organization for low income and minority children;
5 and
 
6     WHEREAS, Most recently, the library hosted "GIANTS:
7 African Dinosaurs Created by Project Exploration"; this
8 multi-faceted project, supported by the Grand Victoria
9 Foundation, Elgin Noon Kiwanis, and the Gail Borden Library
10 Foundation, showcased newly discovered African dinosaurs that
11 lived 135 million years ago, including towering skeletons,
12 original fossil material, touchable exhibitory, and
13 interactive components; this exhibit brought together 225
14 community volunteers, 50 businesses, organizations, and civic
15 groups, 11,000 child visitors, and 1,500 people who viewed the
16 exhibit; therefore, be it
 
17     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
18 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
19 we recognize the amazing efforts of the Gail Borden Public
20 Library District that led to it being named the North Suburban
21 Library System's Library of the Year; and be it further
 
22     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
23 presented to the Gail Borden Public Library.