1Recognizing the week of April 14 through 20, 2013, as "National
2Library Week" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a
4national observance sponsored by the American Library
5Association and libraries across the country each April; and

6WHEREAS, National Library Week celebrates the valuable
7contributions of libraries, librarians and library workers and
8the services and resources they provide to people of all ages
9throughout the United States; and

10WHEREAS, All types of libraries across the country
11participate, including school, public, academic and special
12libraries; and

13WHEREAS, Libraries are more than repositories for books and
14have changed with the times to meet the demands of a technology-
15based society with such items as e-books and audio books,
16computer stations and other digital resources; and

1WHEREAS, The 2013 theme, "Communities Matter @ Your Library,"
2illustrates that libraries are often located in the heart of
3communities and schools and act as a place where people and
4families go to reconnect and engage with one another while at
5the same time having free access to the knowledge held within
6libraries; and

7WHEREAS, Libraries in Pennsylvania served more than 47
8million visitors last year and conducted more than 179,500
9programs for children, parents, entrepreneurs, senior citizens
10and students; and

11WHEREAS, Special programming for job seekers is offered at
12many libraries in Pennsylvania and has aided more than 302,000
13individuals looking for employment through online access to job
14databases, assistance with online job applications, software and
15other job resources to help customers create resumes and
16employment materials; and

17WHEREAS, National Library Week encourages all residents to
18visit their local library to take advantage of the wonderful
19resources and world of knowledge and opportunity offered to
20them; therefore be it

21RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the week of April 14
22through 20, 2013, as "National Library Week" in Pennsylvania.