HR0621 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0621 LRB096 14690 GRL 29535 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to recognize the accomplishments of local communities and their commitment to serving their constituents; and

WHEREAS, The Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District will celebrate its 100th anniversary on October 10, 2009; and

WHEREAS, In 1909, John Henry Smale, a visiting Episcopal seminarian from Chicago, and a group of interested citizens, including Dr. George Brannon and Agnes McHugh, founded the Manhattan Public Library; the group named Ruby Cockle as the first librarian; and

WHEREAS, The Manhattan Public Library was first housed in the old Manhattan Village Hall; the library's first collection began with 100 books and a bookcase donated by the John Baker family; and

WHEREAS, In 1940, the Manhattan Public Library purchased the Manhattan State Bank Building for $1,500; in 1968, the library purchased the Evangelical United Brethren Church; in 1984, the current 6,000-square-foot library facility was constructed behind the Evangelical United Brethren Church; and

WHEREAS, In 1987, the Manhattan Public Library became a library district; in 1995, the Manhattan Public Library District expanded by referendum to include two Jackson Township precincts; in 2001, the Manhattan Public Library District expanded by referendum to include two more Jackson Township precincts, including the Village of Elwood; and

WHEREAS, In 2009, the Manhattan Public Library District changed its name to the Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District to better identify all of the residents within the library district's boundaries; and

WHEREAS, The Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District provides service to an approximate 72 square-mile area, including Manhattan and Jackson Townships and the Villages of Manhattan and Elwood; the district currently serves more than 12,723 residents; and

WHEREAS, The Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District collection includes 60,807 books, 127 magazine subscriptions, 1,457 audios, and 3,283 videos/DVDs; the library district is open 62 hours per week; and

WHEREAS, The Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District's future plan is to provide two new facilities, one each in Manhattan and Elwood, to provide better and more convenient services for local residents; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the employees and administration of the Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District on the occasion of the district's 100th anniversary and thank the district for providing 100 years of service to local patrons; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board as a symbol of our esteem and respect.