Recognizing February 2021 as Love Your Library Month to honor libraries and the resources they provide communities, to show appreciation for library users, and to encourage Philadelphians to engage with their local libraries.

WHEREAS, Public libraries in the United States provide safe, accessible, and free educational resources for every member of the community, regardless of socioeconomic status. The ultimate mission of libraries is to help empower people and improve their situations; and

WHEREAS, Librarians play crucial roles in the functioning of libraries. Librarians in public and academic libraries in the United States answer nearly 6.6 million questions every week ranging from topics on computer literacy, job applications, and resume writing, to filling out government forms; and

WHEREAS, Libraries are critical for young people. They are safe and social places for teenagers to engage with others and study, and they assist students in research and school projects. They teach children to be independent by use of library cards, and to be responsible by trusting them with public items to be returned for others to enjoy; and

WHEREAS, Libraries expose infants and toddlers to a vast array of stories and books that otherwise would not be accessible at this level, and they offer after school programs in the arts, music, and more; and

WHEREAS, Libraries provide shelter and resources for the people who are homeless. Many libraries partner with homeless shelters, and people who are homeless are able to use the library to search for jobs, borrow books for educational training, and access other programs designed to empower them; and

WHEREAS, Libraries help boost local economies by assisting individuals in reaching financial success; and

WHEREAS, Libraries improve community health by offering fitness classes, educational and job training programs, community programs, and more. Additionally, according to a study by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, 59% of librarians assist patrons in finding health insurance and 18% bring in healthcare providers to offer screening services; and

WHEREAS, Libraries provide resources for English language learners, including hundreds of books for immersive learning, multilingual books designed for language learning, language classes, and resources to assist English language learners in housing and employment searches; and

WHEREAS, Libraries preserve history and factual information through primary and secondary sources; and

WHEREAS, Libraries foster friendships and community growth, and they engage residents in ways that city halls and parks do not; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes February 2021 as Love Your Library Month to honor libraries and the resources they provide communities, to show appreciation for library users, and to encourage Philadelphians to engage with their local libraries.

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