1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 745
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to
 1-4     recognize the Dallas Public Library on the grand occasion of
 1-5     its 100th anniversary; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, In 1899, the Dallas Federation of Women's Clubs
 1-7     began organizing efforts for a public library in the city; the
 1-8     organization's leader, May Dickson Exall, requested and received
 1-9     a $50,000 grant from steel baron Andrew Carnegie to construct the
1-10     first library building; and
1-11           WHEREAS, On October 30, 1901, Dallas citizens greeted the
1-12     opening of the Carnegie Library, a two-story building with just
1-13     9,852 volumes housed on the first floor; by 1954, the city had
1-14     outgrown the structure, and the original Carnegie Library was torn
1-15     down to construct a six-story modern facility in its place; and
1-16           WHEREAS, Since its opening, the Dallas Public Library has
1-17     been vigilant about serving all citizens of an ever-expanding
1-18     urban area; in the 1930s several branches were opened, including
1-19     the Paul Laurence Dunbar Library, the first serving the
1-20     African-American population in Dallas; increased population
1-21     during the Baby Boom Era led to the addition of 17 branches
1-22     during the 1960s and 1970s; and
1-23           WHEREAS, Today, the Dallas Public Library operates the
1-24     J. Erik Jonsson Central Library and a network of 22 branch
 2-1     locations, with holdings numbering more than 2.5 million; 2.8
 2-2     million visitors seek its services each year, and registered
 2-3     library patrons check out more than 3.8 million books and other
 2-4     materials annually; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, In this information age, the Dallas Public Library's
 2-6     services have never been more valuable, and the institution is
 2-7     prepared to meet the challenges of the new millennium and continue
 2-8     to serve its patrons with the same enthusiasm and pride that
 2-9     characterized its first 100 years; and
2-10           WHEREAS, Citizens of the Dallas area are indeed fortunate
2-11     to have access to such an exceptional institution as the Dallas
2-12     Public Library; in affording millions the access to its services,
2-13     technology, literature, and other information forms, the Dallas
2-14     Public Library performs a vital public service; now, therefore,
2-15     be it
2-16           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-17     77th Legislature, hereby congratulate the Dallas Public
2-18     Library on its 100th anniversary; and, be it further
2-19           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
2-20     this venerable institution as an expression of high regard from
2-21     the Texas Senate.
2-22                                                                    West
2-23                                  ______________________________________
2-24                                          President of the Senate
2-25                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-26                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-27                                  on April 17, 2001.
2-28                                  ______________________________________
2-29                                          Secretary of the Senate
 3-1                                  ______________________________________
 3-2                                           Member, Texas Senate