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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE VILLAGE OF BERKELEY PUBLIC LIBRARY ON ITS 80th ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, the planning for the Berkeley Public Library began in June of 1945 when resident Barbara Fett Pellman organized a meeting of the Berkeley Women’s Club, the Liberty Social Club, and the Longfellow PTA to establish a local library utilizing discarded books from other libraries; and
WHEREAS, the Berkeley Library held its formal opening on March 1, 1946, utilizing a small spare room at Berkeley Village Hall and was staffed entirely by volunteers; and
WHEREAS, the library has been at its current location at 1637 North Taft Avenue for 54 years. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in 1971 to begin construction of that current location with the dedication and grand opening following in June 1972; and
WHEREAS, the library operates under the mission statement “The Berkeley Public Library connects the community.” The library’s values statement includes connection, customer service, free and equitable access, and fiscal responsibility; and
WHEREAS, annually, the library sees around 25,000 in-person visits, circulates 23,000 items, sees over 2,000 attendees at a variety of programs, and distributes over 1,000 craft kits, senior activity bags, and other outreach materials; and
WHEREAS, the library serves the community as a notary public, a passport acceptance facility, a voter registrar, a community polling place, and as the primary meeting location for many community organizations; and
WHEREAS, at present, the library has a staff of twelve employees and a governing board of seven elected residents dedicated to serving the community of Berkeley; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Berkeley Library has been an invaluable resource for Berkeley residents of all ages and has been an important institution in the civic and community body of the village; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, do hereby honor and recognize the Village of Berkeley’s Library’s 80th anniversary in July of 2026.end