Senate Resolution No. 2937
BY: Senator SERRANO
COMMEMORATING the 125th Anniversary of the New
York Public Library (NYPL) on May 23, 2020
WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge institutions that strive to provide lifelong
learning, advanced knowledge, and cultural opportunities to benefit
their communities through increased educational resources within our
great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the
125th Anniversary of the New York Public Library (NYPL) of New York, New
York, on Saturday, May 23, 2020; and
WHEREAS, The main branch of the library was dedicated in midtown
Manhattan on 5th Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets exactly 16 years
after the formation of the NYPL on May 23, 1911; and
WHEREAS, The nation's largest public library system, the NYPL
consists of 88 unique branches throughout neighborhoods in The Bronx,
Manhattan, and Staten Island, as well as four scholarly research
centers; and
WHEREAS, The NYPL serves more than 17 million patrons a year, and
millions more online; and
WHEREAS, Through generations of curators, the NYPL has built an
organized collection of over 45 million items which include rare books;
original manuscripts, photographs, prints, sound recordings, and films;
videos related to music, theater, and dance; historical posters and
documents; and other items of cultural and historical significance; and
WHEREAS, The NYPL draws a plethora of academic audiences from across
the globe such as students, educators, researchers, writers, and readers
who have the ability to draw from the legacy the library presents, as
well as grow it; and
WHEREAS, The NYPL provides more than access to free books; the
libraries are community hubs, which play pivotal roles in closing
digital divides, especially for millions of New Yorkers who do not have
access to the internet at home; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the NYPL offers comprehensive job search
resources and English language and literacy classes for New York City's
immigrant communities; it also provides more than 103,000 free programs
annually to people of all ages; and
WHEREAS, The success enjoyed by the NYPL 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 are the NYPL'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 NYPL 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 125th Anniversary of the New York Public Library (NYPL);
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the New York Public Library.