Honor Darby O'Brien Retirement

Senate Resolution No. 1337 BY: Senator GRIFFO COMMENDING Darby O'Brien upon the occasion of her retirement after 26 years of distinguished service to the Utica Public Library WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to acknowledge the significant milestones in the distinguished careers of esteemed residents of this noble Empire State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Darby O'Brien upon the occasion of her retirement after 26 years of distinguished service to the Utica Public Library to be celebrated at a party held in her honor on Friday, June 9, 2017, in Utica, New York; she will officially retire on June 29, 2017; and WHEREAS, A native of Rome, New York, Darby O'Brien received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from St. Bonaventure University, her Master of LIbrary Science and her Master of Science in Organization and Management from Central Connecticut State University; and WHEREAS, Throughout her long and esteemed career, Darby O'Brien held the title of Director at several libraries including Traurig Library of Post College in Waterbury, Connecticut, Plainfield Public Library in New Jersey, Linden Public Library in New Jersey, and Rutgers University Library before returning to the Mohawk Valley in 1990; and WHEREAS, As Director of the Utica Public Library, Darby O'Brien worked closely with the Mid-York Library System to improve services to public libraries in Herkimer, Madison and Oneida counties; and WHEREAS, In addition, Darby O'Brien is active with the Mid-York Library System and was the President of the Central New York Regional Library Resources Council, advising libraries in the Mid-York System and Onondaga County on critical issues facing them; and WHEREAS, Dedicated to her community, Darby O'Brien serves on the Board of Directors of Thea Bowman House and the UNHS NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center, and was a member of the YWCA Mohawk Valley and the Girl Scouts Foothills Council; she is currently active in the Utica Rotary Club and the Downtown Utica Development Association Board; and WHEREAS, For her contributions to Utica County, Darby O'Brien was inducted as a Richard W. Couper Living Legend in 2015 by the Oneida County Historical Society; and WHEREAS, For the past 26 years, Darby O'Brien rendered faithful, conscientious and valuable service to the Utica Public Library, earning the admiration, esteem and affection of her colleagues; and WHEREAS, In her capacity as Director of the Utica Public Library, Darby O'Brien served with loyalty, honor and distinction, and was governed by a keen sense of duty and always showed a unique grasp of human problems in her official acts; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Darby O'Brien upon the occasion of her retirement after 26 years of distinguished service to the Utica Public Library; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Darby O'Brien.