RESOLUTION HONORING ANTHONY (TONY) E. POWERS . ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY
WHEREAS; Anthony (Torty) E. Powers retired on May 31. 2020 after 33 years as an exemplary employee ofthe Chicago Public Library where he served as a Librarian during the term of six Mayors from the Honorable Harold Washington to the Honorable Lori Lightfoot; and
WHEREAS, Anthony (Tony) did an incredible job as the Branch Manager at Austin -Irving Branch Library since its opening in 2001 where he is known for his dedication, empathy, commitment, integrity and accountability to his job and library patrons, serving to.make the Austin-Irving Branch Library :a vibrant and integral part of our community; and
WHEREAS; Under Anthony .E. Powers' tenure and direct leadership Austin-Irving Branch has served the.Portage Park and Dunning neighborhoods and accomplished the following since its move to its; current location in 200]:
Visitors - 4.1 million;.
Materials borrowed - 4-142 million items;
•. Over 23;000 Summer [.earning Challenge participants who read for a; total of 18,398,840 minutes = 35+ years wort h of time reading;
Over 385 monthly group book discussions with over 9,000 participants;
Shelved ovci 1,056,000 books; and
WHEREAS, Anthony E. Powers in his tenure mentored, encouraged,: counseled, trained1 and supervised, thousands of library employees, sharing his work ethic and knowledge, always working to improve the quality of service; and
WHEREAS; Tony has served on many Community organizations and service committees and continues to take an active role in his community where he works and resides; and
WHEREAS, Anthony (Tony) E. Powers was the author of one ofthe most significant and community oriented policy changes the Chicago Public-Library has enacted in the last 100 years, adopting a fine-free public library system for every Chicagoan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor, and members of the City Council ofthe City of. Chicago,, gathered here in.ass...
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