Celebrate National Library Week!

In case you didn't know it, this week is National Library Week, which brings attention to libraries and all the helpful services they provide.  NLW has been going on for over 50 years, since the first one in 1958.  At that time, the American Library Association, taking note that people seemed to be spending more time with their "radios, televisions, and musical instruments," made an effort to bring people back into libraries.  The ALA created a campaign emphasizing that libraries offer items for leisure, finance, health, and enriching family life in general.  The first NLW was so successful that it became an annual event at libraries across the country.

It's interesting that various popular distractions were keeping people away from libraries in the 1950s just as they're doing today.  Not only do we have radios, televisions, and (maybe) musical instruments, we have computers and cell phones with all the Internet offerings like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, YouTube, Flickr, and whatever else.  Many are even questioning whether libraries continue to be relevant with all the information accessible through electronic media.

Speaking for my library (and I'm sure many others as well), there are things that happen here that just don't happen in Cyberspace.  Like kids and parents getting together for storytime, learning social skills and making crafts.  Or adults and teens gathering to knit, admiring each others' works in progress and picking up a new stitch or two.  And what about a real person showing you how to find information on the library's subscription databases, something trustworthy and reliable that you can't get for free on the Internet.

We perch librarians and our colleagues have different and exciting programs scheduled for the observation of NLW.  For instance, at my library we have a meeting of the knitting group, a book club discussion, an open-mike poetry night, storytime, and a baby lapsit.  So invite yourself to unplug from your day-to-day distractions and visit the library.  It will be a good investment of your time.  Trust me.

Humbly and honestly yours from the perch.