Bill Text: NY J00634 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulating Mary Luhrs upon the occasion of her retirement after 20 years of distinguished service as to the Shoreham-Wading River Central School District

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-05-11 - ADOPTED [J00634 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J00634-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 634

BY: Senator KENNEDY

        CONGRATULATING   Mary  Jean  Jakubowski  upon  the
        occasion of her retirement after nearly 30 years  of
        distinguished service to the Buffalo and Erie County
        Public Library

  WHEREAS,   This   Legislative   Body   seeks  to  acknowledge  those
individuals whose  professional  lives  and  civic  endeavors  serve  to
enhance the stature of the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
congratulate  Mary  Jean  Jakubowski upon the occasion of her retirement
after nearly 30 years of distinguished service to the Buffalo  and  Erie
County  Public Library; she will officially retire in late June of 2021;
and

  WHEREAS, Mary Jean Jakubowski first attended Medaille College;  upon
graduation  she  received her master's degree in information and library
science at the University at Buffalo, New  York;  her  formal  education
prepared  her  for  the  myriad  of questions she has fielded during her
years at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library; and

  WHEREAS, Throughout her tenure at Buffalo  and  Erie  County  Public
Library,  Mary  Jean  Jakubowski  has  served  in a variety of positions
including, Chief Operating Officer,  Human  Resources  Officer,  Central
Library  Department  Head  and  as  a  Librarian; she has also worked in
several departments at the Central Library and the Orchard  Park  Public
Library; and

  WHEREAS,  A  decade  ago,  this knowledgeable woman rose through the
ranks to become Director of the Buffalo and Erie County Public  Library;
though   her   accomplishments  are  numerous  and  notable,  Mary  Jean
Jakubowski claims this title is her proudest  professional  achievement;
this  illustrious  position  will be the one from which she will retire;
and

  WHEREAS, Mary Jean Jakubowski's forward thinking has not only raised
the level of community awareness about library services,  but  has  also
encouraged   new   partnerships,  bringing  organizations  with  similar
missions into the Central Library; and

  WHEREAS,  In  addition,  Mary  Jean  Jakubowski  has   created   new
initiatives,  such as the establishment of the downtown Reading Park and
the mounting of major public exhibits featuring the Library's Rare Books
and Special Collections, to name a few; and

  WHEREAS, She has strongly supported advancing access  to  technology
by  restoring  bookmobile  service  with  a  WiFi-equipped  vehicle that
travels to underserved areas of Erie County, as well as expanding access
to  free  high-speed  internet,  both  inside  and  outside  of  library
buildings; and

  WHEREAS,   Well-versed  in  all  library  processes  and  day-to-day
operations, Mary Jean Jakubowski is extremely effective in leading  this
large  and complex organization consisting of 37 libraries, nine of them
in the City of Buffalo, and working with a federation  of  22  governing
bodies  and  hundreds  of employees, while serving approximately 400,000
library cardholders; and

  WHEREAS, After an extraordinary career which traversed nearly  three
decades,  this  amazing  woman  still  finds  time  to continue with her
favorite nonprofits: Buffalo & Erie County  Public  Library,  Explore  &
More  -  Ralph  C.  Wilson  Jr.  Children's  Museum, and the Alzheimer's
Association; and

  WHEREAS, Throughout her career,  Mary  Jean  Jakubowski  brought  an
uncompromising  standard  of  excellence to her work and a warm sense of
caring and concern to every person she assisted; and

  WHEREAS, Mary Jean Jakubowski's life experience has been varied  and
full; this extraordinary woman loves traveling, cooking, baking, reading
and her family; and

  WHEREAS,  With  her  throughout have been her husband, Lawrence, and
her two daughters, Katelyn and Kristen, all of whom feel  privileged  to
be a part of her life and rejoice in her many achievements; and

  WHEREAS,  Rare  indeed  is  the  occurrence  of such a compassionate
blending of strength, leadership,  intellect,  and  commitment  as  that
demonstrated  by  Mary  Jean Jakubowski over a lifetime of sacrifice and
dedication to others; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
congratulate  Mary  Jean  Jakubowski upon the occasion of her retirement
after nearly 30 years of distinguished service to the Buffalo  and  Erie
County Public Library; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Mary Jean Jakubowski.