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| 1 | SENATE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to | ||||||
| 3 | congratulate Barbara Byrne Osuch on the occasion of her | ||||||
| 4 | retirement from the Park Forest Public Library; and | ||||||
| 5 | WHEREAS, Barbara Osuch began serving as library director | ||||||
| 6 | of the Park Forest Public Library on October 1, 2003; and | ||||||
| 7 | WHEREAS, During Barbara Osuch's administration, the Park | ||||||
| 8 | Forest Public Library started producing a quarterly | ||||||
| 9 | newsletter, now an electronic monthly newsletter, to inform | ||||||
| 10 | patrons about programs and services, and the library expanded | ||||||
| 11 | its audiovisual collection to include DVDs, CDs, video games, | ||||||
| 12 | and Playaways, including books in MP3 format; she also | ||||||
| 13 | implemented placing Little Free Libraries in strategic | ||||||
| 14 | locations in Park Forest and Olympia Fields for community | ||||||
| 15 | members to enjoy free books; and | ||||||
| 16 | WHEREAS, Under Barbara Osuch's guidance, the Park Forest | ||||||
| 17 | Public Library made numerous technological improvements, | ||||||
| 18 | including becoming a wi-fi hotspot, enhancing internet access | ||||||
| 19 | by running fiber optic cable to the building, and purchasing | ||||||
| 20 | laptops in order for the library to offer free computer | ||||||
| 21 | classes in 2008, and launching a new website to offer a | ||||||
| 22 | streamlined process and a professional new look in 2008; and | ||||||
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| 1 | WHEREAS, Amidst Barbara Osuch's leadership, the Park | ||||||
| 2 | Forest Public Library underwent several building improvements, | ||||||
| 3 | including repairing the roof, replacing the front doors, | ||||||
| 4 | adding new landscaping, and improving space planning in 2008; | ||||||
| 5 | she oversaw a comprehensive renovation of the interior of the | ||||||
| 6 | library, including adding new desks and outward facing shelves | ||||||
| 7 | in the children's area, updating bathrooms, and constructing | ||||||
| 8 | new flooring, which was completed in 2011; she later oversaw | ||||||
| 9 | the renovation of the library's parking lot in 2017, including | ||||||
| 10 | the addition of new energy-efficient lights, the opening of | ||||||
| 11 | the library's drive-up window in 2023, and the completion of | ||||||
| 12 | the staff office area redesign that same year; and | ||||||
| 13 | WHEREAS, Barbara Osuch's passion for gardening has | ||||||
| 14 | resulted in the Park Forest Public Library having won the | ||||||
| 15 | beautification award from the Village of Park Forest year | ||||||
| 16 | after year; she created the Butterfly Garden in 2016, | ||||||
| 17 | dedicating it to the memory of the library patron who made it | ||||||
| 18 | possible with a sizable donation; and | ||||||
| 19 | WHEREAS, Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Barbara Osuch | ||||||
| 20 | ensured that the Park Forest Public Library continued serving | ||||||
| 21 | the public through the implementation and use of social | ||||||
| 22 | distancing, remote programs, and curbside pick-up programs; | ||||||
| 23 | and | ||||||
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| 1 | WHEREAS, Barbara Osuch's sunny disposition and her love of | ||||||
| 2 | poetry, picture books, and gardening have made the Park Forest | ||||||
| 3 | Public Library the beautiful place it is today; and | ||||||
| 4 | WHEREAS, Barbara Osuch will conclude her time as library | ||||||
| 5 | director on July 1, 2024; therefore, be it | ||||||
| 6 | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL | ||||||
| 7 | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate | ||||||
| 8 | Barbara Byrne Osuch on her retirement from the Park Forest | ||||||
| 9 | Public Library, and we wish her the best in all of her future | ||||||
| 10 | endeavors; and be it further | ||||||
| 11 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 12 | presented to Barbara Osuch as a symbol of our esteem and | ||||||
| 13 | respect. | ||||||