Reader’s Corner: Celebrating National Library Week

This year marks the 68th anniversary of National Library week, celebrated this year from April 19 through 25. If you haven’t celebrated yet, it’s not too late to plan a trip to your local library or a special time of reading with children or grandchildren. 

This year’s theme is “Find Your Joy,” highlighting the joy that comes from the services, books and special programming provided by community libraries. Key dates during the week have included “Right to Read Day” on April 20, “National Library Workers Day” on April 21, “National Library Outreach Day” on April 22, and “Take Action for Libraries Day” on April 23.  

Here are some possible action ideas: 

• Stop by your local library, and take someone with you who isn’t familiar with the services available; 

• Offer a ride to someone who would like to visit the library but needs assistance; 

• Sign up for a library card if you don’t have one, or help a friend sign up; 

• Check out new or additional services such as online access, programs, or classes—area libraries offer children’s programming, Master Gardeners classes and much more;  

• If your local library is operated by volunteers, ask about their needs and see if something works for your schedule. 

In the mid-1950s, Americans were starting to spend less time on books and more time being entertained by radio and television. Concerned about the trend, the American Library Association and American Book Publishers formed the nonprofit National Book Committee in 1954, citing goals of encouraging people to spend more of the time freed up by newly invented conveniences for reading, believing that reading could lead to improved incomes, better health and strong family life. Their work led to the first National Library Week, themed “Wake Up and Read!” in 1958. (Source: https://www.ala.org.) 

Critical reading and thinking skills are foundational to maintaining our freedom as informed citizens and voters; and this writer suspects the library leaders concerned about increasing time spent with electronics in the 1950s would be absolutely horrified now. So would many of our nation’s founders who were prolific readers and writers. In honor of America’s 250th birthday, why not add to that list of suggestions, some time spent actually reading some of our nation’s founding documents and influential essays such as the Federalist Papers? 

Area libraries include the Library Center of the Ozarks, Forsyth Library and Kimberling Area Library, as well as some Little Free Libraries located in Branson, Hollister and some other neighborhoods in Taney and Stone County. (See https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/.) Don’t take reading and our libraries for granted!