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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE BERWYN PUBLIC LIBRARY ON THEIR CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, in 1924, the Berwyn's Women Club pushed for the formation of a tax-supported public library; and
WHEREAS, the next year, the dream of a public library came true with the appointment of Frederick Dole as President and Anna Skeels, who served as President of the Berwyn Women's Club, as Vice-President by Berwyn Mayor Frank Janda; and
WHEREAS, in 1925, the Library Board held its first meeting, and by November, had obtained an anticipatory loan of $500 from the city to cover initial library expenses; and
WHEREAS, by 1926, the library was flourishing and had amassed a collection of over 4,000 volumes of literature; and
WHEREAS, in 1939, the new Berwyn City Hall provided the library with space for a Central Branch specifically designed for library use; and
WHEREAS, in 1940, Berwyn librarians began going out to local schools to instruct children on the use of the library; and
WHEREAS, in the 1960s, construction began on the South Branch of Library at 34th Street and Oak Park Avenue; and
WHEREAS, by the 1970s, the library began to evolve and changed services to address new needs of the population; and
WHEREAS, during the 1980s, the library began applying for annual state grants under the leadership of President Albert Korbel; and
WHEREAS, between 1990 and 1991, the number of library card holders grew by 10 percent; and
WHEREAS, in 2010, the Berwyn tradition "The Fairy Tale Ball" was first held at the library, allowing children and their families to explore storytelling in a new way; and
WHEREAS, as of the last few years, the library has continued to evolve to address the community and the development of new technologies; and
WHEREAS, the Berwyn Public Library is an essential public building to hold community events, distribute resources, and protect residents against severe weather or other emergencies; and
WHEREAS, the Berwyn Public Library has been an in...
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