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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY'S RUDY LOZANO BRANCH LIBRARY
WHEREAS, based in the Pilsen neighborhood, Rudy Lozano Branch Library opened it's doors to the public on September 7, 1989; and
WHEREAS, community-led efforts drove the establishment of the library at a time when Pilsen lacked a centralized library branch; and
WHEREAS, during the 1960s, at a time when the Mexican population was growing in the area, there was only a "bookmobile" that would traverse the neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, a Pilsen Library Committee was formed in 1980 by thirteen neighborhood residents who spearheaded the efforts to create a central library; and
WHEREAS, the Committee's efforts ultimately led to the groundbreaking of the $4.5 million library in 1985; and
WHEREAS, the Committee collected suggestions from the public on the naming of the library and voted on Rudy Lozano, named after the influential community organizer who was tragically killed in 1983; and
WHEREAS, since its grand opening in 1989, the Rudy Lozano Library Branch has played a pivotal role as a community resource center not only for local neighborhood residents but for library patrons throughout Chicago; and
WHEREAS, the vision of the Pilsen Library Committee was for the library to be physically located in the neighborhood's center so that it was within walking distance of residents; and
WHEREAS, the library houses the largest Spanish language collection in the Midwest and throughout the years has hosted events with authors from throughout the U.S. and Latin America; and
WHEREAS, the focus of the literature at the library is for, by, and about people of Latin American descent, and includes over 10,000 books donated by the Mexican government; and
WHEREAS, renowned for its diverse programming and the cultural and social services it provides, the Rudy Lozano Branch Library has received awards from the Chicago Community Trust for programs like Blue Skies for ...
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