Yesterday the Suffolk County Legislature unanimously approved a resolution sponsored by Majority Leader Jon Cooper (D-Huntington) designating the third Monday of April as "Librarian Appreciation Day". The goal is to recognize the vital services that librarians perform in our communities and schools each and every day.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in 2004 there were 159,000 practicing professional librarians in the United States. Librarians are responsible for providing a broad array of information services, including computer training, coordination of public programs, literacy education, and help with finding community resources.

The traditional concept of the library has been redefined from a place to access paper records or books to one that houses the most advanced media, the internet, virtual libraries and remote access to a wide range of resources. Librarians must have a working knowledge of a wide variety of scholarly and public information sources in order to oversee the selection and organization of all library materials.

"Librarian Appreciation Day is a wonderful concept," states Leslie Burger, President of the American Library Association. "Librarians have long been at the core of community education, prosperity and livelihood, and a day of recognition for the services they provide is most welcome."

"Librarians are very important people in our communities," states Legislator Cooper. "These professionals are the key information providers for our county's residents and too often their valuable contributions to society go unrecognized." "Librarian Appreciation Day" will be held this year on April 16th. In subsequent years, it will be celebrated on the third Monday in April.