The staff of “America’s Best Small Library” will be State Rep. Mike Anthony’s guests at the S.C. House of Representatives.

Anthony has introduced a concurrent resolution honoring the Union County Carnegie Library for being named the Best Small Library in America for 2009 by Library Journal. He said he plans to invite the entire library staff down to Columbia to sit the gallery of the S.C. House as his guests and they will be publicly recognized by House members.

“I was extremely happy yesterday during Library Advocacy Day to announce that Carnegie had received this award,” he said. “It got a large ovation when I was able to say that is was not only the best small library in South Carolina but in the United States of America.”

Carnegie was selected as Best Small Library for its emphasis on customer service, welcoming attitude toward children and up-to-date computer services. As Best Small Library, Carnegie is featured in the Feb. 1 edition of Library Journal magazine and will receive a $15,000 award from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Library director Nancy Rosenwald said she and the staff were delighted to be honored by Anthony’s resolution.

“This is the biggest honor for this staff and for me it’s just absolutely fabulous and we’re incredibly honored,” she said. “The entire staff will be there to receive this resolution.”