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“HONORING MS. BARBARA MELTON OF WHITE HOUSE, TENNESSEE ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E378-E379 on March 15, 2001.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING MS. BARBARA MELTON OF WHITE HOUSE, TENNESSEE ON THE OCCASION
OF HER RETIREMENT
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HON. BOB CLEMENT
of tennessee
in the house of representatives
Thursday, March 15, 2001
Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Barbara Ann Garland Melton of White House, Tennessee, on the occasion of her retirement after thirteen years as Library Director for the White House Inn Library.
Barbara Melton's foresight and vision as Library Director are to be commended. As the very first Library Director for the City of White House beginning in 1987, Ms. Melton upgraded the library reading selection, computer access catalog, and expanded staff, adding special programs for children, summer reading, adult education and genealogy.
The first library housed 5,500 books. Today, under Melton's direction, the library has 16,000 volumes and circulated more than 55,000 in 2000. With White House as one of the fastest growing cities in Tennessee, Melton's challenge to improve the once small town library was significant. However, she rose to the challenge with excellence and enthusiasm.
Melton also acted as curator for the White House Inn Library museum, which houses numerous artifacts, news articles, and photographs chronicling the history of White House, Tennessee. The museum is located on the upper level of the facility and is often utilized by historians and genealogists thanks to Melton's hard work.
Barbara Melton was certified as a Public Library Manager in 1997, as a graduate of the Tennessee Department of State and the University of Tennessee. Further, she graduated from the University of Tennessee Municipal training program as Municipal Generalist in 1997.
Melton's efforts have not gone unnoticed by her peers. In 1998, the White House Chamber of Commerce named her White House Citizen of the Year. In fact, I was honored to participate in that special presentation recognizing her for all that she has accomplished for the citizens of White House.
In addition to Melton's outstanding work for the City of White House, she is devoted to her husband of 39 years, Ted K. Melton, daughter Paula Eller, son-in-law Christopher Eller, and granddaughter Savannah.
I congratulate Barbara Melton and thank her for laying a successful foundation promoting literacy for all citizens of White House, Tennessee, as Library Director, and wish her the best in her retirement.
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