Did you know that National Library Week began on Sunday, April 4th, 2021? A time to celebrate all libraries -- school/academic, special, and public -- and the work of their contributors, National Library Week promotes usage and encourages thinking about the evolving role of libraries, particularly given the impact of the global pandemic. This year's theme, Welcome To Your Library, embraces a multitude of users, as it highlights the versatility, resilience, and growth of libraries which continue to adapt to changing needs in changing times.
National Library Week was first sponsored in 1958 by the American Library Association and libraries with the theme, Wake Up and Read! It typically occurs every year during the second full week in April, and it is observed through positive participation in conferences, events, and other offerings across the United States.
The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning.
- Plans Underway For National Library Week. (1958, Feb 09). The Hartford Courant (1923-1995)
- Chute, M. (1958, Mar 16). National Library Week: Uses and Delights Of Books: When Words Go Traveling. New York Herald Tribune (1926-1962)
- Child's Specialist To Speak At National Library Week Conclave. (1959, Apr 11). The Chicago Defender (National Edition) (1921-1967)
- How Are You Spending National Library Week?: Did Your School Do Something Special? (1959, Apr 18). The Chicago Defender (National Edition) (1921-1967)
- National Library Week. (1960, Apr 01). New York Times (1923-Current File)
- Gies, J. (1961, Apr 16). Is Your Child a Victim Of the "Library Gap"? New York Herald Tribune (1926-1962)
- National Library Week Due. (1964, Apr 02). Los Angeles Times (1923-1995)
- Bullock, B. (1968, Apr 21). Books, Bars and Barber Shoos: A Surprisingly Successful Experiment - Placing Books in Unlikely Places. The Sun (1837-1995)
- No Fines For Late Bookworms During National Library Week. (1980, Apr 10). The Washington Post (1974-Current File)
- Gardner, M. (1984, Apr 12). Confessions Of a Book-Lover During National Library Week. The Christian Science Monitor (1908-Current File)
- National Library Week. (1985, Apr 14). The Washington Post (1974-Current File)
- National Library Week. (1987, Apr 05). Atlanta Daily World (1932-2003)
Tips:
• Preer, J. (2010). "Wake Up and Read!" Book Promotion and National Library Week, 1958. Libraries & the Cultural Record, 45(1), 92-106.
• Shucha, B. J. (2005). It's About Opportunities: Reflections on Celebrating National Library Week. AALL Spectrum, 8.
• Explore the full range of resources and services, remote and onsite, which libraries bring!
Images:
- Valentines Card on Bookshelf, Courtesy of Freestocks.org
- Special News Slide, Courtesy of Gottesman Libraries
**
Need to keep current, look to the past, teach a topic? The Everett Cafe features daily postings of news from around the world, and also promotes awareness of historical events from an educational context. Be sure to check additional Cafe News postings on the library blog.
