Celebrating National Library Week: What's it All About?

You may have seen Jenkins’ invitation to join us for our Grand (re-)Opening at our new location during National Library Week. So what is National Library Week all about, anyway?

According to its sponsor, the American Library Association (ALA), “National Library Week is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.” Started in 1958 as an effort to not only “encourag[e] people to read in their increasing leisure time", but to "improv[e] incomes and health" and "develop... strong and happy family life" as well, National Library Week is now observed every April. This year it is being celebrated April 7 - 13, and it is being championed by Honorary Chair, Melinda Gates.

This year’s theme, Libraries = Strong Communities, highlights the ways that libraries bolster communities of place - our cities, schools, and campuses - as well as communities of interest and of practice, such as our legal community. In this 45-second video, Gates emphasizes the role of libraries as hubs of both information and connection. Libraries not only provide access to books and databases, but also design and host programs that encourage lifelong learning, provide space for community members to meet or do research, foster civic engagement,  advance literacy, encourage the use of new technologies, advocate for patron privacy [note the 2016 publication date], and support a well-informed citizenry. And that’s just the beginning! 

In addition to the festivities at Jenkins (think food, giveaways, and an open house with a ribbon cutting!), national celebrations sponsored by ALA include:

• Monday, April 8: State of America's Libraries Report released, including Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2018.
• Tuesday, April 9: National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, administrators, and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers. #nlwd19
• Wednesday, April 10: National Bookmobile Day, a day to recognize the contributions of our nation's bookmobiles and the dedicated professionals who make high-quality bookmobile outreach possible in their communities. #BookmobileDay2019
• Wednesday, April 10: Library Giving Day is a one-day fundraising event with the goal of encouraging people who depend on and enjoy public libraries to donate to their individual library system. #LibraryGivingDay
• Thursday, April 11: Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to speak up for libraries and share your library story. #MyLibraryMyStory