National Library Week 2017

By Shari Randall

Whoo hoo! It’s National Library Week. I hope there’s cake in the break room for librarians across the country. Or maybe a raise. 

The American Library Association sponsored the first National Library Week in 1958. All kinds of libraries celebrate – public, academic, special, and school. It’s a time to celebrate the ways these libraries contribute to their communities, to publicize their offerings, and to promote library support. This year’s theme is “Libraries Transform.”

If you’d like to join the celebration, the ALA has designated these special events for the week. Here’s the calendar from their website:

Monday, April 10: State of America's Libraries Report released, including Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2016.

Tuesday, April 11: National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, users, administrators and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers.

Wednesday, April 12: National Bookmobile Day, a day to recognize the contributions of our nation's bookmobiles and the dedicated professionals who make quality bookmobile outreach possible in their communities.

Thursday, April 13, has just been designated TakeAction for Libraries Day.

If you have been following the news you know that the President had proposed eliminating all federal library program funding and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) that administers it. There was an outcry from library supporters across the country and a push to have to their representatives sign “Dear Appropriators” letters to preserve funding.

Library supporters rejoice! One-third of the House of Representatives (of both parties) signed these “Dear Appropriators” letters. The ALA created this House tracker to see if your Representative in the House signed on to support one of the two programs that fund IMLS, IAL (Innovative Approaches to Literacy Act) and LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act).

Next the ALA is working on Senate Dear Appropriator letters for LSTA and IAL. This Senate tracker will show if your Senator signed last year. 

What a year for libraries. It’s not all banned books, maker spaces, and best sellers. Now librarians can add advocacy to their to-do lists.

Be sure to stop by your library and let the librarians know you appreciate them. Just don’t ask them to do your taxes. Librarians really don’t like that.