Quad-Cities Libraries Celebrate National Library Week From A Distance
Although more than 60 years have passed since the first National Library Week celebration, the original goals of celebrating libraries, promoting reading for leisure, improving incomes and health, and developing strong and happy family life are still relevant today. National Library Week began Sunday, April 19, and though the celebration looks different than in any previous year, the goal is the same: to educate about what libraries offer, and to inspire use.
Due to social distancing restrictions, this year’s theme has shifted to “Find the Library at YOUR Place.” That theme recognizes the creative ways libraries are reaching out to provide service through online offerings available at your home. While we’re closed, Rock Island Public Library staff are reaching out to you with online storytimes, a virtual library escape room game, how-to videos on using electronic services, online book talks of downloadable books you can enjoy, and an exciting new service that allows you to turn through the pages of Rock Island High School Yearbooks from 1911 to 2019, all while you are staying safe at home.
National Library Workers’ Day is April 21, and although our building doors are temporarily closed, I want to give a huge amount of public thanks to our small, but mighty, library team. While we can’t serve you face-to-face right now, we continue to provide library service where you are, through our social media platforms, wide array of digital content and learning options, expansion of our existing digital library card option, and support via email and Facebook messaging. This type of service doesn’t magically happen, but rather, is a concerted effort by all.
The week also includes National Bookmobile Day on April 22. While we hoped to celebrate with activities on our new Library2Go service, this is one more thing we will have to postpone. Keep your eye out for a new schedule when we can resume routes, and for fun at home, download our Library2Go cut-out model via our website.
The seeds for National Library Week started in the 1950s, after American Library Association (ALA) research showed Americans were spending less on books, and more on radios, televisions, and musical instruments. The ALA and American Book Publishers formed the non-profit National Book Committee in 1954. With help from the Advertising Council, the first National Library Week followed in 1958 with the theme “Wake Up and Read!”
When planning for this year’s National Library Week, none of us imagined the emergence of a global pandemic that would force libraries to close their physical spaces. Yet libraries like ours remain open for business online, providing access to services you can use from the comfort of your home. Today, people can still wake up and read in the safety of their places, though library eBooks and audiobooks available through their computers, mobile devices, tablets, and e-readers. Digital services also offer learning support for children who can’t be in school right now, and a chance to escape cares through online music and movie streaming.
Libraries, librarians, and library workers are finding innovative ways to serve our community in a time of crisis. And as much as we all miss seeing you in person, we are ready to assist you with connecting in other ways. We look forward to a day when we can reopen and celebrate libraries when it is safe to do so. When that happy day comes, I invite you all to come for a visit. In the meantime, check out our website to explore the numerous ways you can still utilize our services.
