THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY CURRY, BAKER, BEAR, BELFANTI, BEYER, BISHOP, BOBACK, BOYLE, BRENNAN, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, CUTLER, DePASQUALE, DERMODY, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARKINS, HARRIS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, HOUGHTON, KILLION, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KOTIK, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MANN, MARKOSEK, MARSHALL, MARSICO, MATZIE, McCALL, McGEEHAN, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILLER, MOUL, MUNDY, MURPHY, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PICKETT, QUINN, READSHAW, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SAMUELSON, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SIPTROTH, M. SMITH, STABACK, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TALLMAN, WAGNER, WATSON AND CONKLIN, APRIL 19, 2010

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 19, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the week of April 11 through 17, 2010, as "National

Library Week" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, The American Library Association (ALA) annually

designates a week in April as a national observance to celebrate

the contributions of this nation's libraries, librarians and

library workers to their communities and to promote library use

and support; and

WHEREAS, Each year, participants include all types of

libraries across the country, including school, public, academic

and special libraries; and

WHEREAS, This year's theme is "Communities thrive @ your

library," as citizens of all ages are being encouraged to better

understand how their local library helps their community to

thrive by visiting their local library; and

WHEREAS, America's libraries are vital institutions and

dynamic centers of lifelong learning that play a unique role in

ensuring the public's right to know and empowering people from

all walks of life to make informed decisions about the world

around them; and

WHEREAS, Libraries play an integral role as community,

educational and cultural centers that bring together diverse

populations and serve as important cornerstones in healthy

communities; and

WHEREAS, Libraries have the most recent ideas and information

available on subjects and are a cost-effective means of

providing education, training and the opportunity for self-

improvement to all individuals without regard to age, race,

income or socioeconomic background; and

WHEREAS, As vital connections to the people, places and ideas

of the world through books, magazines, videos and the Internet,

libraries are the primary point of online access for people

without computers at home, school or work; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 73% of libraries are their communities' only

source of free computer and Internet access, which rises to 82%

in rural areas; and

WHEREAS, Nationally, the average cost to the taxpayer for

access to this wide range of public library resources is $31 a

year, about the cost of one hardcover book, which makes public

libraries a bargain; and

WHEREAS, Libraries help communities thrive in challenging

economic times and Americans are visiting their local public

libraries more often and checking out items with greater

frequency in communities large and small; and

WHEREAS, As more and more Americans look for employment,

libraries are helping to level the playing field for job

seekers, as many library patrons are turning to library

computers and Internet access to find work, apply for jobs

online, type resumes and cover letters and open e-mail accounts;

and

WHEREAS, During times of economic downturn, libraries see

more users because people cut back on entertainment, given that

libraries afford them the opportunity to rent films for free and

check out compact disks, use databases and download audio books;

and

WHEREAS, It has been documented that library usage increases

in the wake of a recession, however, at the same time, tight

State and city budgets are closing library doors and reducing

access when it is needed most; and

WHEREAS, Libraries provide indispensable educational

resources for children and teenagers, plenty of free activities,

as well as safe, enriching entertainment for the whole family;

and

WHEREAS, Librarians and library workers play key roles in

helping people explore, imagine and discover new horizons in the

vast world of information, knowledge and entertainment; and

WHEREAS, Two-thirds of adult Americans visit their local

public libraries annually, with more than a billion visits made

each year by adults, and likewise by students to their school

libraries; and

WHEREAS, America's libraries play a key role in the national

discourse on intellectual freedom, equity of access and

narrowing the digital divide and are the cornerstone of our

democracy; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of libraries and library supporters across

the nation are celebrating "National Library Week" this year;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

week of April 11 through 17, 2010, as "National Library Week" in

Pennsylvania, and encourage all citizens of this Commonwealth to

visit their local library and explore the wide variety of

cultural and educational riches that libraries hold; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to

the National Library Association, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago,

IL 60611.