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Whereas, in 1890 Andrew Carnegie offered the City of Pittsburgh $1 million to build and equip the Main Carnegie Library and five branches, in hopes that a free library open to the public would collectively benefit and be sustained by the community; and,
Whereas, the library system has since grown to serve the City of Pittsburgh out of nineteen library locations throughout the city offering a variety of services to the public free of charge; and,
Whereas, a voter referendum will be on the ballot to help the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh sustain funding for its diverse and beneficial programming serving the residents of the community of the City of Pittsburgh; and,
Whereas, due to public funding that has not kept pace with the demand for library services, the importance of this voter referendum, in conjunction with ongoing fundraising events, are necessary to continue to provide free and critical library services to the residents of our city; and,
Whereas, a special 24-hour fundraising event named "Read to the People 1440@4400" will take place from 12 o'clock noon on Friday, October 14th, 2011 until 12 o'clock noon on Saturday October 15th, 2011 on the front steps of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Main in Oakland; and,
Whereas, the "Read to the People 1440@4400" event will include local residents and dignitaries reading their favorite books to the public, among other activities to help advocate the importance of the voter referendum taking place on November 8th, 2011; and,
Whereas, "Read to the People 1440@4400" will help to raise awareness of the importance of a free and public library system to the residents of the City of Pittsburgh; and,
Whereas, this event is held as part of the ongoing fundraising efforts of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
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Now, therefore be it resoloved that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby honor Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh; and,
Be it further resolved, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare October 14th & October 15th Read to the People Days in the City of Pittsburgh.