For Immediate Release
Office of Mrs. Bush
August 21, 2003
Remarks by Mrs. Bush Centennial Celebration of the San Antonio Public Library
Thank you, David and members of the San Antonio World Affairs Council
for welcoming me to historic San Antonio. Thanks also to the staff of
the San Antonio Public Library and members of the Library Foundation
for your warm welcome. There is perhaps no greater joy for a librarian
than to commemorate a century of learning and literature. I'm thrilled
to be here to celebrate the enduring history of the San Antonio Public
Library, one of the oldest libraries in Texas.
Maybe it's the heat that drives us Texans to take refuge in our
libraries - but oh the refuge we find in books and reading - and how
mystery, history and intrigue draw us back again and again. As a child,
spending quiet summer afternoons with my mother at the Midland Public
Library was my favorite thing to do. I loved the smell of books and the
anticipation of stories and characters yet to be discovered.
Beloved Texas author, the late A.C. Greene, grew up in Abilene
where his grandmother was the librarian. He wrote about the joy of
going to the library and captured my sentiments perfectly. He wrote: "I
was raised in a library, brought up one book at a time, a page at a
time, a word at a time - raised from a hot, dry West Texas town to a
world which time, travel and age have never yet combined to better -
the world of the printed page."
There's nothing quite like a trip to the library, especially for
the nine thousand San Antonians who visit a branch of the library every
day. Whether strolling through the aisles or speeding along the
information superhighway, libraries enable us to journey as far and
wide as our imagination will allow.
I wonder if Andrew Carnegie imagined how much the San Antonio
Public Library would change when it opened a century ago. There were
only about seven thousand books in the beautiful Carnegie Building.
Today, the Central Library is a modern architectural masterpiece that
inspires readers of all ages. And it continues to fulfill its founder's
vision that libraries foster the mind, the body, and the spirit. The
beautiful Chihuly sculpture delights and nurtures the spirit of all who
visit the Central Library. And soon, the Julia Yates Simmons branch
will open in Comanche Lookout Park. This new branch will be surrounded
by 80 acres of trails and parkland, providing a welcome retreat for
readers and nature lovers.
This library, like thousands across America, stands as a beacon for
education and information. Children know that if they have a question
about the world, the library is the place to find the answer. And
someone will always be here to help them find the answer - our
dedicated librarians. I want to thank the librarians here today. Your
job is an important one. Our nation runs on the fuel of information and
imagination that libraries provide. Librarians educate and inform the
public, and by doing so, they strengthen our great democracy.
As the San Antonio Public Library has grown, so has its community
of readers. From long-time residents to newborns, generations of
lifelong learners continue to be nurtured at the library. The Born to
Read Program is a great example of how the library is preparing
tomorrow's readers. Teaching children to love books and reading is one
of the greatest lessons we can share.
When children love to read, they will read for a lifetime - just
like Mary Anne Guerra, who has been coming to the San Antonio Public
Library for more than 70 years. Mary Anne, thank you for being here and
for your support of the library. As a child, books and reading provided
Mary Anne with an escape from the Depression. As an author, she's spent
hours researching Texas history. Today, visitors to the library can
read Mary Anne's books.
And they can read about their own history. Mary Anne believes that
the job of a library is to inspire people to learn about their culture
and heritage. She says, "As a nation and a community, we demand to know
who we are, where we came from, and what our forefathers have done. The
library provides this for every San Antonian."
Mary Anne's husband, Henry, also loved the library. He may even
have surpassed her record of the most books checked out at one time. As
a San Antonio historian and author, reading and books were Henry's
passion. He was not only one of the libraries greatest patrons, but
also one of its biggest supporters. And soon more readers will discover
Henry's love of books when they visit the new Henry A. Guerra library
this fall.
Considering her library attendance, nine year-old Desiree Dear may
be one of the first to visit the new library. Desiree has been going to
the library every week since she was six years old. She says, "It's a
good thing when you get your library card because the library is a
place where you can get your questions answered."
Desiree finds the answers to her homework at the library and
because she spends so much time there, she's ready to start fourth
grade at Somerset Elementary this fall. She recently read About Kay, an
All American Girls Book. She really hopes her mom will let her check
out the next book in the series during their upcoming visit. Do you
think we convinced her, Desiree? Desiree is such a fan of the library
that she speaks before the City Council on the importance of supporting
public libraries.
And she has a lot of help from the Library Foundation. Thank you to
the members of the Library Foundation for your support of the San
Antonio Public Library. Your tireless efforts make the central library
and its twenty branches an inviting place for three million visitors
every year - and with a large summer reading program, a great place for
children like Desiree to spend long, summer days.
I also commend the city of San Antonio, the World Affairs Council
and the many private citizens for your generous support. I know you are
proud of the investment you've made in your community and your future -
especially your children's future. A century ago, private citizens came
together to fund and support the San Antonio Public Library. This
tradition must be continued to support and expand public libraries in
the future.
Claiborne Carrington believed in this tradition and he believed in
the power of books and reading. He loved literature and by supporting
the library, he shared this love with so many. He was instrumental in
raising funds to build the Central Library and for the commission of
the Chihuly sculpture. Claiborne insisted that the Foundation raise
private funds for the sculpture, rather than sacrifice a single dime
that could go towards books.
He was the driving force behind the Centennial Campaign, which
raised eight million dollars for books. With his creativity and good
humor, Claiborne dubbed the effort, "Mission Possible" and even sent
out camouflage invitations to team meetings. Members of the Foundation
remember him as the cheerleader of the group who rallied enthusiasm
with his energy and humor. They often would argue over who got to sit
next to Claiborne during meetings because he was so funny and so much
fun to be with. That is how I remember Claiborne.
As his best friend and biggest supporter, his wife Alice often
laughed the hardest at his jokes. And he admired her just as much.
Whenever Claiborne came up with an idea, he would tell his fellow board
members, "I have to run this by Alice first." Besides his work with the
Foundation, Claiborne supported the United Way of San Antonio, Big
Brothers/Big Sisters, and the San Antonio Museum of Art. He was a
devoted civic servant and I'm proud to be here to honor my good
friend.
Congratulations again to the San Antonio Public Library on 100
years of reading and learning. Today, as we celebrate the past, we mark
a new chapter in the history of the library - and we ensure that this
institution continues to be a living repository for information,
education and beloved books. With devoted patrons and book lovers like
Claiborne, Mary Anne and Desiree, the library is sure to have another
100 history-rich and story-filled years here in San Antonio. Thank
you.
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