LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Friends of Middletown Thrall Library
upon the occasion of its 20th Anniversary

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities of the great State of
New York are reflective of the concerned and devoted efforts of organ-
izations and individuals dedicated to serving the community and its
citizens; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
commend, upon the occasion of its 20th Anniversary, Friends of Middle-
town Thrall Library and its members, past and present, for their dedi-
cation and commitment to the library and people of Middletown, New York;
and
WHEREAS, On Thursday evening, March 19, 2009, the library's Board of
Trustees will proudly celebrate this auspicious anniversary during its
board meeting, honoring Friends of Middletown Thrall Library, Inc. and
its many wonderful volunteers who have helped and supported the library
throughout the past two decades; and
WHEREAS, Friends of Middletown Thrall Library has compiled a long and
distinguished record of achievement since its founding in 1989; and
WHEREAS, Initially, the all-volunteer Friends of Middletown Thrall
Library helped organize community support for the construction of a new
library facility and was instrumental in persuading officials of the
efficacy of locating it in the historic and centrally-located Erie
Station on Depot Street; upon opening in February 1995, the new Middle-
town Thrall Library immediately became the cornerstone of the Downtown
Middletown renaissance; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, in recognition of these and many of its other
efforts, Friends of Middletown Thrall Library earned the New York
Library Association's prestigious Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy
Award; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the years, Friends of Middletown Thrall Library's
efforts have continued to support the library through significant finan-
cial contributions and contributions of goods and services, enabling the
library to provide additional and expanded educational, civic, cultural,
and business services to the community at large; and
WHEREAS, The Friends Used Bookstore has long been a local landmark and
favorite gathering place for booklovers throughout the area; located in
the historic Railway Express building adjacent to the library, staffed
by a team of dedicated volunteers, and stocked with donated books, the
bookstore draws shoppers into Downtown Middletown and continues to help
the Friends group to provide the library with new materials, furniture,
equipment and public programs for all ages; and
WHEREAS, Friends of Middletown Thrall Library remains mindful of its
role of advocacy on behalf of the Middletown Thrall Library and of its
mission to stimulate the use of the library's resources and services and
to support and cooperate with the library in developing library
services, programs, and facilities for the community; and
WHEREAS, Libraries are centers of learning and the cornerstones of
community life; with the assistance of the Friends group, the Middletown
Thrall Library has continuously been able to expand its services to meet
the needs and challenges of its patrons and has become an ever more
important educational, cultural, and community institution; now, there-
fore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Friends of Middletown Thrall Library upon the occasion of its 20th
Anniversary; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Robert Foglia, President, Friends of Middletown Thrall
Library, 11-19 Depot Street, Middletown, New York 10940.