MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Barbour

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE B.S. RICKS MEMORIAL LIBRARY UPON THE CELEBRATION OF ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY.

WHEREAS, the B.S. Ricks Memorial Library in Yazoo County, Mississippi, is celebrating its 100th Anniversary; and

WHEREAS, the Yazoo Library Association, founded in 1838, was chartered by the Mississippi Legislature to provide public library service to Yazoo County; however, the association struggled for 60 years to find an appropriate location to house its books and serve its members; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. B.S. Ricks adopted the library as her cause and offered to build a new building for the Yazoo Library Association in memory of her late husband, Benjamin S. Ricks; and

WHEREAS, with its beginning founded in providing books and arranging debates for its members, the Ricks Memorial Library adapted its services as the needs of its patrons changed; and

WHEREAS, throughout its 100-year history, the library has provided books to its patrons as well as other services such as book discussions, mail library service, bookmobile service and services to the homebound; and

WHEREAS, the Ricks Memorial Library has survived the 1904 fire that destroyed most of downtown Yazoo City, the Mississippi River flood of 1927 and narrowly missed destruction from the 1933 tornado; and

WHEREAS, the Ricks Memorial Library shows a successive number of primary events among Mississippi's public libraries including being the first public library in the state constructed completely with memorial funds in 1900; the first public entity in Yazoo City to integrate its facilities by signing the Compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in 1965; the first public library in the state to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975; the first public library in the state to automate its library circulation, card catalog and cataloging functions in 1985; the first public library building in the state to reach its centennial year of operation in 2001 and the oldest public library building in the state; and

WHEREAS, the B.S. Ricks Memorial Library has provided the citizens of Yazoo County with many services to fulfill their literary needs for 100 years:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the B.S. Ricks Memorial Library upon the celebration of its 100th Anniversary and express our appreciation for its many years of services to the citizens of this state.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the B.S. Ricks Memorial Library and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.