HR0690 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0690 LRB104 20574 RMO 34058 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Fox River Valley Public Library District on the occasion of its 150th anniversary, marking a century and a half of service to the communities of northeastern Kane County; and

WHEREAS, The Fox River Valley Public Library District maintains its main library in East Dundee as well as a branch in West Dundee; it serves approximately 71,500 residents across East Dundee, West Dundee, Carpentersville, Sleepy Hollow, and Gilberts, as well as portions of Algonquin, Barrington Hills, and Elgin; by population served, it is the seventh-largest library district in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Library service in the Fox River Valley began long before the modern district existed and has roots in two early subscription libraries, the Carpentersville Library and the original Dundee Library; in the 1850s, members of the Sons of Temperance gathered a small collection of books in Carpentersville's Library Hall, a building shared with the local school district; in 1871, the newly-formed Carpentersville Literary and Library Association expanded this collection and began operating with the help of volunteer librarians; that same year, residents formally declared their intent to organize a literary society under Illinois law; and

WHEREAS, The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed libraries across the city, prompting an international book donation effort and inspiring the 1872 passage of the Illinois Library Act; in 1876, Carpentersville established one of the first tax-supported libraries in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, In 1876, the Dundee Library was established through the efforts of Dr. E. F. Cleveland and Fred Haverkamp, who believed strongly in expanding educational and cultural opportunities for the community and whose work helped create a space for learning and engagement beyond the social norms of the time; and

WHEREAS, In 1959, the Dundee Library and the Carpentersville Literary and Library Association merged to form the Dundee Township Library, with a main location in Carpentersville and a branch in West Dundee; this merger laid the groundwork for what would become the Fox River Valley Public Library District, a system built on collaboration, community support, and a shared belief in the power of access to information; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Fox River Valley Public Library District on 150 years of serving the community as a welcoming place for learning, connection, and discovery; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Fox River Valley Public Library District as an expression of our esteem and respect.