H.R. No. 1674
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Georgetown Public Library will be celebrating
its first half-century in March 2016, and the beginning of its 50th
anniversary year provides a welcome occasion to take note of this
distinguished institution's history; and
WHEREAS, Before the public library was established,
residents of Georgetown used the libraries of the local school
district or Southwestern University if they wished to borrow a
book, though many of the popular titles requested by readers were
unavailable there; and
WHEREAS, In response to demand, the Georgetown Public Library
was opened on March 21, 1966, in two small, poorly lit rooms off
Main Street, with $21 in its account, a volunteer staff, and a
collection of 1,200 books; in June of that year, fewer than 1,000
books were checked out, but by 1970, the library had grown enough to
require its own building, and in 1987, it moved again, to Martin
Luther King Jr. Street; and
WHEREAS, Since 2007, the Georgetown Public Library has been
housed in a 54,000-square-foot building that features a
kid-friendly first floor and a quieter section on the second floor;
this thriving institution operates with an annual budget of $2
million and boasts a collection of nearly 111,000 books and 6,700
DVDs, and today it loans out as many items in a single day as it used
to in a month; and
WHEREAS, The library also enjoys the support of the Friends
of the Georgetown Library; this dedicated and hardworking group of
volunteers numbers more than 740 members, making it one of the
largest such associations in the state; and
WHEREAS, For nearly half a century, the Georgetown Public
Library has been a source of enlightenment, inspiration, and
delight to countless area residents, and it is a pleasure to
recognize this vital community resource; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary year of the
Georgetown Public Library and extend to its staff, volunteers, and
patrons sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the library as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Farney
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1674 was adopted by the House on April
23, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House