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“TRIBUTE TO QUEENS BOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E717 on May 7, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO QUEENS BOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY
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HON. THOMAS J. MANTON
of new york
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, May 7, 1996
Mr. MANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very special organization as it celebrates 100 years of service to the residents of my district in the Queens Borough of New York City: The Queens Borough Public Library. In keeping with the library's centennial theme,
``Lighting the Way,'' a year-long array of events commemorating this historic occasion is now underway at the Central Library in Jamaica, Queens, and at each of the library's 63 branches located throughout the borough.
The official celebration began on March 19, with Charter Day programs presented throughout the Queens Library system. Charter Day is the anniversary of the signing of the Queens Library charter in 1896 by New York State Librarian Melvil Dewey, the architect of the familiar
``Dewey Decimal System.''
Mr. Speaker, the Queens Library provides a tremendous service to the 2 million residents of Queens, virtually all of whom live within walking distance of a library branch. It provides more than 18,000 cultural, educational, informational and social programs for Queens' residents. These include access to computerized data bases of social services and job listings, vocational counseling, classes in everything from coping skills to parenting, and accultruation for new immigrants in dozens of the languages spoken in Queens. After-school latchkey programs assist 35,000 Queens children each year to develop good homework habits and learn how to use a library. The library's literacy programs reach thousands more.
Interwoven with all these are the library's technology programs, putting the power of information technology in the hands of people who would otherwise be denied access on economic grounds. According to the department of Commerce, less than 8 percent of central city homes in the northeast have computers with modems.
Mr. Speaker, with all these services, the Queens Library also holds a very prestigious place among U.S. public libraries: It has the largest circulation of any library in our Nation, and the highest per capita use of New york City's three library systems.
The Queens Library has favorable ratings that most of us in the political community envy. User surveys reveal that almost 90 percent of borough residents have a favorable opinion of the library and what it does for them. More than 60 percent of Queens children visit a Queens Library facility each year. Over 175,000 borough residents turned out for centennial events last month.
Mr. Speaker, the Queens Library is a very special part of Queens as it touches more people than any other Queens service institution. I know my colleagues join me in paying tribute to the Queens Library today by wishing it a most sincere Happy Birthday and many more to come.
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