LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library upon
the occasion of celebrating its 40th Anniversary on April 19, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the sense 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 institutions whose
purpose is dedicated to serving the community and the needs of its citi-
zenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library upon the occasion of celebrating its
40th Anniversary on Sunday, April 19, 2009; and
WHEREAS, In 1969, a group of concerned residents from Clifton Park and
Halfmoon, New York, established the Shenendehowa Free Library; the name,
Shenendehowa, was chosen by the original trustees because of its famili-
arity and acceptance in the two towns; the Library's original home was
located above the National Commercial Bank and Trust Company (now Key
Bank) on Route 9 and 146 in Clifton Park, New York; and
WHEREAS, In 1971, the Shenendehowa Free Library moved to the old
schoolhouse on Cemetery Road in Halfmoon, New York; by 1980, through the
generosity of many residents, the library moved again to a new 4,600
square foot facility on Clifton Country Road; and
WHEREAS, The Library quickly outgrew this facility as well, and in
1988, the voters approved an expansion to the Library; construction
began in 1989, and in 1990, the expanded facility was open to the
public; the new building nearly quadrupled the original size of the
Shenendehowa Free Library; and
WHEREAS, By 2004, the Library was in need of expansion to keep pace
with the growing demand for services; in September 2004, voters approved
a proposal for a new 55,000 square foot library to be built on 11 acres
on Moe Road in Clifton Park; the new Library opened its doors on Decem-
ber 11, 2006; and
WHEREAS, Over the past 40 years, the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public
Library has grown from a small location with a collection of a few thou-
sand books and a circulation of 8,997 to a state of the art 55,000
square foot LEED certified facility with a collection of over 170,000
items and a circulation of 676,474 items; and
WHEREAS, The success enjoyed by the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public
Library is in direct correlation to the efforts of the many individuals
who have supported the development of the library over the years; and
WHEREAS, Equally commendable is the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public
Library's superbly-skilled staff, whose involvement is and has always
been characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm,
and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all of their efforts on
behalf of the library and the population it serves; and
WHEREAS, Steeped in a proud and distinguished history, the Clifton
Park-Halfmoon 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
commend the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library upon the occasion of
celebrating its 40th Anniversary; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library.