82R8557 BPG-F
By: Anchia H.R. No. 415
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Library professionals and supporters from across
the Lone Star State are gathering in Austin on February 16, 2011,
for Texans Support Libraries Day, and this occasion provides a
welcome opportunity to recognize the vital importance of our
libraries and the contributions made by librarians; and
WHEREAS, In 1839, Republic of Texas President Mirabeau B.
Lamar established the national library of Texas; today, the 561
public libraries in the state range from the Round Top Library,
which serves 84 people, to the Houston and Dallas library systems,
which serve millions; more than 80 million visits were made to Texas
public libraries last year, and nearly 12 million Texans have
public library cards; and
WHEREAS, Libraries at Texas universities and community
colleges support the studies of more than two million students each
year, and school libraries play an integral role in educating close
to five million children; children's programs at Texas public
libraries draw over three million annually, and the 54-year-old
Texas Reading Club keeps more than 500,000 children and teens
reading each summer; and
WHEREAS, While helping to foster critical thinking,
libraries provide opportunities for Texans to enhance their
knowledge, education, careers, and quality of life through
literacy, technology, job-search, and other training programs;
libraries connect Texans with a wealth of electronic resources and
provide powerful research tools via the Internet; as a result,
library users have conducted more than 116.5 million searches of
TexShare online resources and retrieved nearly 50 million
electronic documents; for people without Internet connections at
home, school, or work, public libraries are the primary point of
online access, and for 67 percent of Texans, they provide the only
free means of online access in their communities; and
WHEREAS, The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is a
tremendous source of Texas-based knowledge, and along with that
organization, librarians work with the Texas Library Association,
the Friends of Libraries & Archives of Texas, and other local
library groups to improve access to library services; and
WHEREAS, Librarians understand how knowledge is organized
and teach users how to find, evaluate, and apply information
effectively; moreover, they foster a love of reading and learning
in children; and
WHEREAS, For more than 170 years, libraries and librarians
have helped Texans reach their fullest potential, and it is a
pleasure to join in celebrating the many ways in which they enrich
our lives; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 16, 2011, as Texans Support
Libraries Day at the State Capitol and commend all those
participating for their dedication to promoting and supporting
library services; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared
for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and the Texas
Library Association as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.