Libraries Strengthen Their Communities: Celebrate National Library Week April 7-13
This week, the Arrowhead Library System joins libraries of all types in celebrating the many ways libraries build strong communities by providing critical resources, programs and expertise.
April 7-13, 2019 is National Library Week, an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians and library workers play in transforming lives and communities. Libraries are at the heart of their cities, towns, schools and campuses. They have public spaces where people of all backgrounds can come together and connect.
Library programs encourage community members to meet to discuss civic issues, work together using new technologies like 3D printing or learn along side one another in English language classes. Library staff also partner with other civic and service organizations to actively engage with the people they serve, always striving to make sure their communityâs core needs are being met. First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April.
National Library Week is an exciting opportunity for libraries of all types to raise awareness of their value and impact in the communities they serve. Free tools are already available for you to start planningâstay tuned for more great materials coming soon!
- 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:Â 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:Â Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to speak up for libraries and share your library story. #MyLibraryMyStory.
- Saturday, April 13 is Citizen Science Day, coinciding with the final day of National Library Week. SciStarter has a free guide for how libraries and library workers can get involved.
Melinda Gates is 2019 National Library Week Honorary Chair!
Melinda Gates has dedicated her life to achieving transformational improvements in the health and prosperity of families, communities and societies. Now she will lend her support to advocate for our nationâs libraries as honorary chair of National Library Week. Over the last 20 years, Gates has invested more than $1 billion through her foundationâs Global Libraries initiative to enhance the power of libraries to improve lives. As co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, she sets the direction and priorities of the worldâs largest philanthropy. She is also the founder of Pivotal Ventures, an investment and incubation company working to drive social progress for women and families in the United States.
On April 23, Gates will debut âThe Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World,â a timely and necessary call to action for womenâs empowerment. The candid and inspiring book traces Gatesâ awakening to the link between womenâs empowerment and the health of societies. It introduces us to Gatesâ heroes in the movement toward equality, offers startling data and shares some of the moving conversations sheâs had with women all over the world. Gates details the tremendous opportunities that exist right now to âturbo-chargeâ change, and she provides simple and effective methods that each of us can use to make a difference.
