Bill Text: IL HR0621 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates the employees and administration of the Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District on the occasion of the district's 100th anniversary and thanks the district for providing 100 years of service to local patrons.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2009-10-14 - Resolution Adopted [HR0621 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-HR0621-Introduced.html

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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

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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

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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.