Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HJR0025

HJ0025 LRB104 12906 ECR 24424 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General Assembly recognize the accomplishments and contributions made by exceptional citizens of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Jim Edgar, who was raised in Charleston, served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1977 to 1979, as the 35th Illinois Secretary of State from 1981 to 1991, and as the 38th Governor of Illinois from 1991 to 1999; and

WHEREAS, As Secretary of State, Jim Edgar also served as the State Librarian, initiating the Read Illinois program to promote the appreciation of Illinois authors and to showcase the State's literary heritage; and

WHEREAS, Jim Edgar maintained a large personal library and a large collection of Illinois history books on loan from the State Library in his office, acquiring the nickname of "The Reader" by his employees at the State Library; and

WHEREAS, Jim Edgar established the statewide network, ILLINET Online, which supported a library circulation system for Illinois academic libraries and a resource sharing catalog of five million books, periodicals, videos, and films from 800 individual academic, public, special, and school libraries and the then 18 regional library systems; and

WHEREAS, Jim Edgar became a foremost advocate of literacy, and he developed an adult literacy program that became a national model, earning him recognition as the recipient of the American Library Trustee Association Literacy Award in 1986; and

WHEREAS, Jim Edgar committed himself to rural library development and supported the establishment of public library districts to create larger units of library service in the State; and

WHEREAS, Jim Edgar pushed forward an effort to construct a new Illinois State Library building, overseeing its construction, which was dedicated on June 20, 1990; and

WHEREAS, Jim Edgar assisted in selecting the 35 authors who were given the honor of having their names engraved on the edifice of the new library building, reflecting the diversity of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Jim Edgar continues to advocate for good government policy in the State and across the nation; for his efforts, he has been inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln, and he is a resident fellow of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; and

WHEREAS, Jim Edgar has made vital contributions of service and merit to the State of Illinois and its citizens, and he is highly deserving of the honor to have his achievements noted and remembered by current and future generations; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate Rooms 105 and 109 of the Illinois State Library at 300 South Second Street in Springfield as the "Jim Edgar Reading Room" that houses the Illinois Authors' Collection in honor of the lasting legacy and impact of former Illinois Governor and Illinois Secretary of State Jim Edgar; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Jim Edgar and Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias as an expression of our esteem and respect.