2025 -- S 1031

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LC002735

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING "SAVING WANSKUCK LIBRARY: A CELEBRATION OF COUNCILMAN

ANDREW J. ANNALDO, JR." ON MAY 7TH OF 2025

     Introduced By: Senators Bissaillon, Gu, Sosnowski, Raptakis, DiPalma, LaMountain,
Murray, Rogers, Paolino, and Thompson

     Date Introduced: May 07, 2025

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, In 1910, Wanskuck Library first opened its doors with 1,117 volumes that

had formerly been contained in the Wanskuck Company's employees' library; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, the Wanskuck Company provided the space rent-free, as well as

the janitorial services for the creation of the Library; and

     WHEREAS, In November of 1928, the Providence Public Library opened a library

branch on Veazie Street that served Wanskuck residents until 1981, when due to a shortage of

funding, the Providence Public Library closed the Wanskuck Library in order to save money; and

     WHEREAS, The Library's closure devasted the Wanskuck and North End communities

until newly elected Councilman Andrew J. Annaldo, Jr. vowed to find the funds necessary to

reopen the Library; and

     WHEREAS, In 1984, the stalwart Councilor Annaldo, along with a dedicated group of

local library advocates succeeded in their mission, and generated the funding necessary to reopen

the beloved Library; and

     WHEREAS, On the eve of the Wanskuck Library's reopening date, a fire ultimately

delayed the public opening until June 3, 1987, and shortly thereafter, the dedicated group of local

library advocates started the Library's first Library Friends group in order to ensure the Library's

continuous presence in the community; and

     WHEREAS, Literacy skills are essential for effective participation in our democracy, in

the workplace, and in the community. Lady Bird Johnson once said, "Perhaps no place in any

community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is

interest.", and thus it is entirely appropriate and essential to commend the efforts of the Honorable

Andrew Annaldo and the dedicated local Library Friends group for their efforts to continue to

make the Library's resources available to all who walk through its doors; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby honors and celebrates

the saving of Wanskuck Library and Councilman Annaldo's role in saving the library and the

community members who helped him; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Andrew J. Annaldo, Jr., and

Denise Brophy, Wanskuck Library Manager.

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LC002735

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