Senate Resolution No. 1492 BY: Senator GRIFFO COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the Oneida Public Library on April 30, 2024 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that the quality and character of life in the communities across the great State of New York is reflective of certain exemplary organizations whose purpose is dedicated to serving the community and the needs of its citizenry; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Oneida Public Library on April 30, 2024; and WHEREAS, The centennial celebration of the renowned Library will honor the pillars of the Oneida Public Library, featuring historical exhibits in their art gallery, a poster contest for high schoolers, a downtown walking tour, summer concert series, cemetery tour and more; and WHEREAS, Providing enrichment, enlightenment, education, and entertainment to the members of the community for over 100 years, the Oneida Public Library was recognized by the Central NY Library Resources Council (CLRC) with the Library of the Year Award; and WHEREAS, With humble beginnings, the history of the formation of the Oneida Public Library dates back to 1879, when Mrs. S. S. Goodwin and the leading ladies of Oneida Village Society created the Ladies Circulating Library Association, Oneida's first formal library; and WHEREAS, On April 30, 1924, the Oneida Public Library opened in the back room of the Oneida Chamber of Commerce; Miss Nellie Mirick opened the doors to the newly formed institution and the Oneida Free Library came to life as the first patron, Eugenia Potter, checked out a book on that date; and WHEREAS, The Library Association purchased the Woodhull House at 254 Main Street, where Oneida's first public reading room was established; after the Library outgrew the Woodhull House, a new beautiful building, funded by community members, was built on a donated lot on Broad Street; the new Hand-Barker Memorial Library, was dedicated on January 29, 1955; and WHEREAS, By the 1990s, the Library had begun to once again outgrow their facility and also started to face a period of financial struggle; in 1996, with the support of the New York State Legislature and the Oneida City School District, the Oneida Public Library was able to re-establish itself and expand its hours of operations, as well as its holdings; and WHEREAS, Today, the Oneida Public Library serves the 15,000 residents who live in the special library district; it supports a collection of about 55,000 books, periodicals, and audio-visual items, offers frequent and diverse children's and adult's programming, provides space for numerous community groups and one-on-one tutoring, and gives residents the benefits of a membership with the Mid-York Library System; and WHEREAS, The Oneida Public Library has been an invaluable resource for residents of Oneida, New York, for 100 years; people come to the Library to connect, discover, and learn through story times, book groups, and various programs for all ages; and WHEREAS, The success of the Oneida Public Library is in direct correlation to the efforts of its dedicated Executive Director, Michele Ryan, and its members, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the Library and the population it serves; and WHEREAS, Steeped in a proud and distinguished history, the Oneida Public Library may take just pride in its purposeful growth, as it looks forward to continuing to serve the educational, cultural, and intellectual needs of the community; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Oneida Public Library on April 30, 2024; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Oneida Public Library.