Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 31

Introduced by Senator Wolk

(Coauthors: Senators Hill, Liu, and Nielsen)

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Gatto and Gordon)

March 12, 2015

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 31—Relative to California Library Week.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 31, as introduced, Wolk. California Library Week.

This measure would declare April 12, 2015, to April 18, 2015, inclusive, as California Library Week.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, California Library Week seeks to partner with the
efforts surrounding National Library Week, which is being
celebrated in public libraries throughout the United States from
April 12, 2015, to April 18, 2015, inclusive; and

WHEREAS, More than 21 million people use California’s public
libraries each year; and

WHEREAS, California’s public libraries are changing and
dynamic places, offering books, computers, Internet access, e-mail
reference, e-books, and other innovative services to connect their
users with ideas and information; and

WHEREAS, California’s public libraries are valued community
centers providing education, information, knowledge, and
entertainment; and

WHEREAS, California’s public libraries and librarians advance
teaching and learning by helping students, faculty, seniors,
veterans, researchers, and other members of the general public
obtain the best, most accurate, and complete information; and

WHEREAS, California’s public libraries provide equal and
economical services to library users, and in many cases, serve as
a community’s only point of access to resources for learning; and

WHEREAS, California’s public libraries provide technology
training and help to bridge the “digital divide” for those who do
not have access to technology at home or at school; and

WHEREAS, California’s public libraries change lives by serving
over 20,000 adults annually through customized literacy services
delivered primarily through trained volunteers, who contribute
over 750,000 hours annually to assist adults in learning how to
read; and

WHEREAS, The students of California are a rapidly growing
group of library users, visiting the state’s public libraries after
school and on weekends for homework assistance and for materials
to use in school assignments; and

WHEREAS, California’s public libraries are important
community educational resources, providing books and innovative
programs and services such as preschool literacy readiness, Toddler
Times, the California Summer Reading Program, Grandparents
and Books, and Reach Out and Read in conjunction with pediatric
clinics; and

WHEREAS, This year the California State Library will be
celebrating its 165th year of providing technical assistance and
consultation to California’s public libraries, and preserving and
hosting an abundance of California’s priceless historical items;
and

WHEREAS, California’s public libraries preserve our cultural
heritage, inform our present, and inspire our future; now, therefore,
be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature declares the week of April
12, 2015, to April 18, 2015, inclusive, as California Library Week,
and commends California’s public libraries, librarians, and all
library workers for enriching the lives of California residents and
helping to make our state an exceptional place to live, learn, and
work; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.