HR0957 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0957 LRB099 19646 MST 44043 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Mahomet Public Library; and

WHEREAS, The Mahomet Public Library was founded in 1966, starting out with 3,000 books, art prints, and phonograph records; today, it has over 36,500 books, 2,500 DVDs, 3,500 music CDs and audiobooks, and more than 30,000 digital titles available through membership in various consortia; it has expanded from one room on Main Street to a new, 13,000-square-foot facility that also provides a meeting place for the community; and

WHEREAS, The Mahomet Public Library grew out of the efforts of a local women's club in the mid-1960s; in January of 1966, members of the Mahomet Town & Country Club - precursor to today's Town & Country Womens Club - formed a committee to explore the possibility of establishing a library; the first Mahomet Township Library opened its doors to the public on October 1, 1967; the first year's operating budget was a modest $9,600, plus $4,100 for facility costs; and

WHEREAS, Ruby Goode was hired as the first librarian in 1968, replacing interim librarian Charles Dawson; she was followed by Paula Emmons in 1977 and Nan Goodell - the library's first full-time director - in 1980; current Library Director Lynn Schmit has occupied her position for more than half of the library's history, joining the library in 1988; and

WHEREAS, In the fall of 1981, the library moved into a 4,000-square-foot building at 512 E. Main (now headquarters for Mahomet Township); the following year saw the founding of the Friends of the Mahomet Library, a non-profit group whose fundraising efforts include the Run for the Library; and

WHEREAS, In the 1990s, Mahomet was growing quickly and outgrowing its library; the Mahomet Public Library moved into its current building in 2009; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Mahomet Public Library and we wish them many more wonderful years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Mahomet Public Library as an expression of our esteem and respect.