Westerly Sun Column | Come Celebrate National Library Week

The American Library Association (ALA) has celebrated National Library Week since 1958, in recognition of the important role libraries play in their communities. One thing I love about libraries is that no two are the same – and I’m not talking about the physical space. The programs, classes, resources, services, even the book and media collections, are all formed around the needs of our unique communities. I may be a bit biased, but I think Westerly has an amazing library…perhaps a reflection of our own amazing community! This year, Library Week is held from April 23rd-29th, and we invite you all to stop in and celebrate along with us.

We’re blessed with a beautiful, historical building that people love to wander through and explore. I’ve worked here for 7 years, and I’m still learning new things about the library and its history! Whether you frequent the library, or haven’t been here in decades, this is a great week to come and reacquaint yourself, or perhaps learn something new. All week long, you can drop in and participate in our scavenger hunt, which will lead you all around the library, likely to corners that you haven’t really been before!  Complete the hunt (which should take 10-15 minutes), and you can come to the 2nd floor Reference desk to claim a prize. The scavenger hunt is great for all ages, though little ones will need some assistance, and our helpful staff are available if you get stuck!

Our Kids scavenger hunt will lead participants out to Wilcox Park, where they can search for items on the list while also enjoying our week-long Storywalk ™. Pages of the book “You’re Missing It!” by Brady Smith and Tiffani Thiessen (yes, elder millennials, that’s our friend Kelly from Saved By the Bell!) will be laminated and displayed in the park, so kids and adults can read the book while enjoying a short stroll near our flower gardens. The book itself is a playful story about a kid enjoying the magic of nature while his parent is glued to his phone – an all-too relatable premise!

In addition to our special events, there are plenty of other services we offer year-round. Check out our Library of Things, where you can borrow a soccer ball, radon detector, trail camera, and more. Grab some seeds from our Seed Library, check out old newspapers on Microfilm, create something new in our Makerspace, or download eBooks with our Libby app. There’s so much to discover. If you don’t have a library card, stop by the Circulation desk, and sign up for yours in a matter of minutes. If you’re able, we are also asking for donations this week, which will help us reach our goal and earn a challenge gift from a group of generous donors. Any amount is appreciated, an each one brings us closer to our goal. Thank you support Westerly Library and Wilcox Park, today and every day!

By Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian