National Library Week is the perfect opportunity to encourage your community to tell their stories. This year, in keeping with the Libraries Lead theme, ask your patrons to tell us how the library led them to something of value in their lives.
One randomly selected winner will receive a $100 VISA gift card and a copy of “Firebird,” the Coretta Scott King Award-winning book by Misty Copeland, 2018 National Library Week Honorary Chair.
Library lovers can post to Twitter, Instagram, or on the I Love Libraries Facebook page during National Library Week for a chance to win. Entries can be a picture, video, or text. Creativity is encouraged. Just be sure they include the hashtags #NationalLibraryWeek and #LibrariesLead on their social media post for a chance to win.
Join in the fun. The promotion begins Sunday, April 8 at noon CT and ends Saturday, April 14 at noon CT.Today’s libraries lead their communities and transform lives every day. From education to job resources to lifelong learning, your library provides access to the programming and services you need to you reach your potential and grow as a leader.
The National Library Week 2018 celebration will mark the 60th anniversary of the first event, sponsored in 1958.
In the mid-1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less on books and more on radios, televisions and musical instruments. Concerned that Americans were reading less, the ALA and the American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit citizens organization called the National Book Committee in 1954. The committee’s goals were ambitious. They ranged from “encouraging people to read in their increasing leisure time” to “improving incomes and health” and “developing strong and happy family life.”
In 1957, the committee developed a plan for National Library Week based on the idea that once people were motivated to read, they would support and use libraries. With the cooperation of ALA and with help from the Advertising Council, the first National Library Week was observed in 1958 with the theme “Wake Up and Read!”
Read more about the 60-year history of National Library Week at American Libraries magazine, and check out the list of past National Library Week themes.
National Library Week is April 8-14—visit your local library today or go to ilovelibraries.org for more information.