Sandra Henry, librarian, visits with library patron, Genevieve McDonald recently as McDonald gathers viewing materials at the Acadia Parish Library in Crowley.
STAFF WRITER
CROWLEY – “Worlds Connect at Your Library,” the theme for National Library Month, observed annually in the month of April, will be celebrated with a host of events lasting throughout the month. On Saturday, April 11, Reverend Jesse Jackson and the American Library Association, or ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels will participate in a reading event to kick off National Library Week, which will be celebrated April 12 through 18. Tuesday, April 14 will host the celebration of APA’s National Library Workers Day. On this day, special recognition is given to library staff, users, administrators and friends groups in recognition of their valuable contributions.
Also during that week, ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom will release the “Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2008” list, and on Thursday, April 16, Support Teen Literature Day will be held.
Sandra Henry of the Acadia Parish Public Library announced that all area branches will host “Fine Free Week”, during National Library Week, Sunday March 12 through Saturday March 18. The theme for this year is “Tales in the Room.”
“The week will end with a story hour sponsored by the Bayou land Storytellers Guild of Southwest Louisiana this Saturday at 10 a.m.,” informed Henry.
Spearheaded in 1958, National Library Week celebrates the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians to promote all libraries, including schools, public, academic and special. This campaign was launched after research at that time showed Americans were spending less on books and more on radios, televisions and musical instruments. Concerned that Americans were reading less, the ALA and American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit citizens organization called the National Book Committee in 1954.
Four years later, the first campaign’s theme was “Wake Up and Read!”
National Library Month was again observed in 1959, and the ALA Council voted to continue the annual celebration. In 1974, the AL assumed full sponsorship.
Since then, the event has been carried forth each year.
For more information about National Library Week activities in Acadia Parish, contact the Acadia Parish Public Library at 788-1880.
Post a Comment