Westerly Sun Column | Celebrate National Library Week With Us

Every year since 1958, the American Library Association has celebrated National Library Week in recognition of the important role libraries play in their communities. This year, the celebration runs from April 6 through 12th, and the theme is “Drawn to the Library”. Just as there are a huge assortment of people who use libraries, there are a multitude of reasons WHY they are drawn here; everything from borrowing materials like books and movies, to social opportunities, to bare necessities such as internet access. No matter what personally draws you to the library, I hope you make a special trip this week to celebrate library week along with us … and to enter our National Library Week Drawing!

From now until April 12th at 4:00pm, you can earn tickets to enter the drawing just by using the library as you normally would: by borrowing materials, using a computer or printer, attending a program, or using another library resources such as a database. In addition to these, we have a few out-of-the-norm events going on that can earn you additional tickets, like donating to our Food Drive, which benefits the Jonnycake Center, sponsoring a duck from us for the annual Pawcatuck Duck Race, or donating to our Annual Fund, which helps the library and park continue to offer important resources to the community. If you engage in any of these activities, stop by the service desk to fill out a ticket to enter the drawing, and you’ll be entered to win library swag and literary inspired prizes.

I work on the 2nd floor of the library, and can’t tell you how many times someone has told me that they have been coming in for years, but have never been upstairs before. Well, this is a great week to explore areas of the library that you’ve never ventured into. On April 8th and April 10th at noon, we are offering free drop-in tours of the library that will give you some history of the building and lead you through all four levels. If you prefer to explore a bit on your own, we’ll also have a fun scavenger hunt that will challenge you to solve clues and visit different parts of the library, which you can do anytime during library hours. We also have a self-guided tour of Wilcox Park, which can be accessed through our website, and is a fantastic way to explore the park on a warmer day.

Much of this week is focused on fun and games, but there is, unfortunately, a serious undertone to the celebration. Recently, an Executive Order was issued to defund the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which would impact libraries nationwide, impeding their ability to provide vital services and resources that our communities count on. There is much that you can do to offer support, such as writing to your elected officials, but the biggest thing you can do is simply continue to use your library, which shows how important the institutions are to our communities. We look forward to seeing you this week, and throughout the year!

by Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian