Assembly Resolution No. 829

BY: M. of A. Magee

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the
Earlville Free Library on February 17, 2018

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
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 Earlville Free Library to be
celebrated at a party on Saturday, February 17, 2018; and

WHEREAS, For 100 years, the Earlville Free Library has strived to
serve its community; cultivate knowledge; promote curiosity; and inspire
lifelong learning; and

WHEREAS, The Earlville Free Library is a member of the Mid-York
Library System, a not-for-profit library system, which serves 43 public
libraries in Madison, Oneida, and Herkimer counties; and

WHEREAS, Through the years, the Earlville Free Library has enjoyed
great successes, accomplished numerous goals, and triumphed over
tragedy; and

WHEREAS, Today, the Earlville Free Library has a collection of over
20,000 items that patrons can borrow, ranging from adult fiction and
nonfiction to children's books aimed at emergent readers; and

WHEREAS, The Earlville Free Library was formally opened to the
public for the first time on February 18, 1918; patrons perused the
books and magazines on the shelves and drank a cup of freshly brewed
tea; on September 17, 1919, the library received its Provisional
Charter; and

WHEREAS, On Easter of 1925, a fire raged through the Morgan Block
where the library was kept; unfortunately, only a few hundred books were
saved; and

WHEREAS, After renting rooms in the Cotton Laboratory, the library
room in the new Village Hall was formally opened on February 5, 1926;
one year later, the library's Absolute Charter was issued on February
17, 1927; and

WHEREAS, In January of 1966, the Library Board began to discuss
ideas to enlarge the library, and in March of that year, the expansion
project was started; and

WHEREAS, The grand opening of the new library was held on November
23, 1969; the 4,000 square foot library included a meeting room named
the Edna Lamb Room, which would serve as a community social room; and

WHEREAS, As the library's circulation increased, four paid part-time
staff positions were added in 1987; in January of 1988, the library
began on-line computer booking services with the Mid-York Library
System; and

WHEREAS, In 1990, the librarian, Mrs. Wilcox, initiated special
Christmas programs which lead to the annual Christmas decorating contest
which has helped bring together the residents of Earlville during the
holiday season; and

WHEREAS, At the turn of the century, the Gates Foundation provided
the library with five new computers, and the Mid-York Foundation
graciously renovated the old office room into the computer lab for the
community; and

WHEREAS, In 2003, the Earlville Free Library was proudly named one
of the top 10 libraries in the country serving towns with populations of
1,000 and under; one year later, the Library was once again recognized
as one of the top 10 libraries in the country serving small populations;
and

WHEREAS, The Earlville Free Library became the first library in the
area to offer wireless internet for patrons bringing their own computers
in 2005; and

WHEREAS, In 2009, the Earlville Free Library was the recipient of a
grant for BOOKS for CHILDREN by the Libri Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Under the luminous leadership of Director Shari Taylor, the
Earlville Free Library is governed and guided by a Board of Trustees
composed of seven community members; the trustees serve as the liaison
between the library and the public, establishing policies which are
responsive to the community's needs; and

WHEREAS, Equally commendable are the Earlville Free 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 Earlville
Free 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 Earlville Free Library on
February 17, 2018; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Shari Taylor, Director, Earlville Free Library.