Bill Text: IL SR0202 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Barbara Ballinger of Oak Park.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-04-20 - Resolution Adopted [SR0202 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SR0202-Introduced.html

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SR0202 LRB103 31688 MST 60215 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
to learn of the death of Barbara Ballinger of Oak Park, who
passed away on November 14, 2022 at the age of 97; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger was born in Miami, Oklahoma in
1925; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger started her library career with
the Oklahoma City Public Library; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger received a chauffeur's license
to drive a bookmobile for the Topeka Public Library following
her graduation from the University of Kansas; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger earned her master's degree in
library sciences at the University of Illinois and landed a
job as the assistant director of Oak Park Public Library's
Maze branch in 1958; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger served as director of Oak
Park's library system for 32 years before retiring in 1991;
and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger led the Oak Park Public Library

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during a period of tension and change, guided by the principle
that public libraries are for all; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger was seen as an outstanding
public servant who committed herself to literature, education,
and Oak Park history; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger is credited with spearheading
the collaboration between west suburban libraries in the 1970s
and 1980s that would lay the groundwork for the SWAN network
that exists today, allowing for the seamless distribution of
materials throughout the suburbs; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger shared a July 21 birthday with
Oak Park's famous native son, Ernest Hemingway, and was a
dedicated volunteer with the Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park;
and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger helped create the Ernest
Hemingway Foundation Archives, now housed at Oak Park's Main
Library, which includes translations of many of his works as
well as a check for $100 that Hemingway intended to cover any
outstanding fines; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger was a voracious reader and
belonged to several local book clubs over the many decades

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that she lived in Oak Park; she also talked many of those in
her book clubs into reading books that they may have never been
inclined to read normally; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger had a love for poetry,
particularly by Gerard Manley Hopkins, and would joyfully open
book club meetings with his poems; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger was also devoted to the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra, as one of its longest subscribers, the
Lyric Opera, particularly Wagner's monumental Ring Cycle, and
the summer Ravinia Festival; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger was a recipient of the Senior
Citizens' Center of Oak Park-River Forest's 2017 Ulyssean
Award, which honors seniors committed to lifelong learning and
who have made significant contributions to the community; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger was a vital fixture in the Oak
Park community and played a leading role in the library, First
United Church of Oak Park, the Doris Humphrey Society, and
several other nonprofit organizations; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Ballinger will be missed by her family,
many friends, and the Oak Park community who continue to
benefit from the non-profit organizations she helped to

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thrive; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Barbara Ballinger and extend our sincere condolences to her
family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of Barbara Ballinger as an expression
of our deepest sympathy.