The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LACKAWANNA PUBLIC LIBRARY
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HON. BRIAN HIGGINS
of new york
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam Speaker. I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Lackawanna Public Library in Western New York. Located minutes away from Our Lady of Victory Basilica, Lackawanna City Hall, as well as the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, in many ways, the library serves as the heart of the City of Lackawanna. Attracting Western New York residents of all ages, the library hosts a variety of community activities including movie nights, book clubs, and computer classes.
The Lackawanna Library is rich in local and national history. Built in 1922, the building was one of the last libraries commissioned and funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The library stands on what was originally a potter's field, otherwise known as a burial place of unknown people, which the City of Lackawanna acknowledged in 1992 with a monument.
The first floor of the library houses a local history museum containing collections of photographs, maps, and artifacts from the Bethlehem Steel Company which was at one point the second largest producer of iron throughout the United States. The historical significance of the library itself can be seen in the building's architecture and beautiful oak woodwork.
In the library itself, dedicated employees and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that those within the local community can gather and find enjoyment in the versatility of the library. For the past 100 years, staff and friends of the Lackawanna Library have sustained a focus on the enhancement of literacy, community, and historic preservation that benefits the entire community in Western New York.
Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize the Lackawanna Public Library here today and I'm pleased I was able to join in the centennial celebration on Sunday, July 10, 2022. The Centennial Celebration Committee planned a celebration for the entire community which included notable local writers, including author of the American Girl Series Connie Porter and Washington Post Columnist Margaret Sullivan, as well as the incomparable library staff to celebrate the distinguished legacy of the Lackawanna Public library.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 115
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