From Harry Potter and Matilda to Lord of the Rings, Libraries open the doors to a lifetime of adventure and travel. To help celebrate the importance of our libraries we will wildly celebrate National Library Week, from April 3 to 9.
The theme for National Library Week 2022, “Connect with Your Library,” promotes the idea that libraries are places to get connected to technology by using broadband, computers, and other resources. Libraries also offer opportunities to connect with media, programs, ideas, and classes—in addition to books. As we can get rather lively here, stop on by the library to find out just how passionately we can get to hail our favorite subject – ourselves.
“National Library Week is a time to celebrate our nation’s libraries, library workers’ contributions and promote library use and support. First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and observed in libraries across the country each April. All types of libraries – school, public, academic and special – participate.”
“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 citizen’s 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.” 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’!”
Multiple Emmy-nominated and Spirit Award-winning actress, comedian, and legendary Saturday Night Live cast member Molly Shannon, will help celebrate our nation’s libraries this year as the honorary chair of National Library Week.
National Library Week also occurs during Support Teen Literature Day, School Library Month and National Bookmobile Day. Ironically, 2020’s theme for National Library Week was ‘‘Find Your Place at The Library’’ but due to the Covid-19 global pandemic, libraries were closed amid a nationwide lockdown. However, most libraries are now open, providing services and digital content to your heart’s desire.
DID YOU KNOW? The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with more than 167 million items on approximately 838 miles of bookshelves, which would span roughly the distance from The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., to Cape Canaveral, Florida.
A growing body of evidence suggests that students’ academic success is linked to Library usage, including improved student retention and an enhanced academic experience. Libraries play a critical role in the happiness of Americans. Communities that spend more on libraries, parks and highways are shown to support the well-being of community members.
Americans go to public libraries more often than they go to the movies. Librarians have long championed their community members’ right to access information privately, and serve as an essential refuge where everyone can check out materials or browse the internet without their information being shared.
There are more public libraries than Starbucks in the U.S. – a total of 16,568, including branches. Nearly 100% of public libraries provide Wi-Fi and have no-fee access to computers. There were 1.4 billion in-person visits to public libraries across the U.S., the equivalent of about 4 million visits each day. That’s 2,664 per minute. There were 113 million attendees at public library programs in 2016, more than all Major League Baseball, National Football League, and NBA games combined. That’s 16.5 million more than in 2013.
Everyone in a college benefits from the college library, yet they receive fewer than two cents of every dollar spent on higher education. Digital media titles in U.S. academic libraries have increased by 50% since 2014. Academic librarians provide information services for almost 38 million people each year – reaching more than the four million people that attend men’s college basketball games.
Students in high-poverty schools are almost twice as likely to graduate when the school library is staffed with a certified school librarian. The five year graduation rate in high poverty schools was 78.8% “five-year” graduation rate versus 43.2% without a certified teacher-librarian.
Cutbacks in school librarians may be yielding unintended consequences. According to a recent study by Stanford University, more than 80% of middle schoolers cannot tell the difference between sponsored content and a real news article.
Research shows the highest achieving students attend schools with well-staffed and well-funded school libraries. Increased library staff links to higher CSAP scores (2010). Students make almost 1.3 billion visits to school library media centers during the school year, the same as attendance at movie theaters in 2014, or four times as many visitors to national parks.
School libraries give students a unique opportunity for self-directed inquiry. Four out of five Americans agree that libraries help spark creativity among young people. Lower-income students are especially at risk of falling behind in math and reading when school is out. Libraries help narrow the achievement gap by offering summer learning opportunities to kids of all backgrounds.
Libraries strengthen local economies and create healthier communities. 84% of libraries offer technology training to patrons in computer software use. 76.8% of libraries provide online health resources and 60% offer programs to help Americans identify health insurance resources and get better informed on health topics. 73.1% of libraries provide programs that assist individuals apply for jobs, create resumes, and prepare for interviews. 97% of libraries help people complete online government forms.
Libraries are the place for lifelong learning. 95% provide online homework assistance. 95% offer summer reading programs for children. Library access equals opportunity. 100% of public libraries offer access to the Internet. 98% of public libraries offer free Wi-Fi. 90% help patrons with basic Internet skills. 9 out of 10 libraries offer access to e-books.
Rural and small public libraries provide a variety of critical services and information resources to meet the needs of residents across the United States and recognize the unique needs of rural communities.
Our future depends on libraries. Libraries are about freedom- freedom to read; communication; safe places for all ages; and a solid basis for education; especially homeschool. Libraries do not support censorship and therefore are extremely important centers of knowledge. We are resources for millions of users and networks of learning.
So stop on by and help us celebrate. We look forward to seeing you at our National Library week program with Frank LaLiberty on April 5 at 6:00. Watch for more information next week.