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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, During National Library Week, April 15-21, 2007, and |
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on National Library Workers Day on April 17, citizens across the |
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nation are joining together with the American Library Association |
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to celebrate the contributions of libraries in our schools and |
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communities as well as the efforts of those trained professionals |
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who assist patrons; and |
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WHEREAS, Public, academic, and specialized libraries serve a |
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vital function in their communities and provide millions of people |
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with the knowledge and information they need to live, learn, and |
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work in the 21st century; libraries also serve as gathering places |
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for people of all ages, ethnicities, and economic means, including |
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students who come to learn research skills and to study together, |
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parents who introduce children to their first books, seniors who |
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keep in touch with family across the country using free Internet |
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access, and job seekers who get connected with important resources |
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and employment opportunities; and |
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WHEREAS, While some predicted the age of technology would |
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render libraries obsolete, it has instead extended their reach |
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through the free use of computers and the continuously expanding |
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universe of the Internet; in fact, for those many individuals who do |
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not have computers at home, library computers fill an important |
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function, narrowing the "digital divide" and providing an equity of |
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access that prevents potential disenfranchisement; and |
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WHEREAS, Library use is up nationwide and in 2006 more than |
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two billion items were checked out and libraries served nearly 1.8 |
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billion visitors; in 2005, in Texas alone, library patrons borrowed |
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some 100 million items from public libraries, and received |
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assistance with nearly 24 million reference questions; in addition, |
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research suggests that students who attend schools with good |
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libraries perform better on standardized tests; and |
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WHEREAS, Texans and Texas libraries further benefit from the |
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resources and services provided by the Texas State Library and |
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Archives Commission and its knowledgeable staff; and |
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WHEREAS, Libraries, free and open to all, provide |
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opportunities for lifelong learning to those who take advantage of |
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their resources, and it is indeed fitting that these essential |
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institutions and their dedicated workers be honored; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 15 through April 21, 2007, as |
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National Library Week and April 17, 2007, as National Library |
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Workers Day and encourage all Texans to visit their local |
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libraries. |
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Dukes |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1502 was adopted by the House on April |
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17, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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