National Library Week

National Library Week is being observed April 13-19, 2008 with the theme, “join the circle of knowledge @ your library.”

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. All types of libraries – school, public, academic and special – participate.

National Library Week affords a wonderful opportunity for librarians and non-librarians to both promote and reflect on the importance of libraries to our society. Here are some examples of various groups are observing National Library Week:

Gale, a library publisher, is providing free access to their new Books & Authors database all month, during National Library Week – April 13-19 – libraries will have free week-long access to these resources.

In special recognition of law and other librarians during National Library Week, West Librarian Relations is hosting three educational opportunities via Webex. Join us for one or more!

Topic: A Federal Legislative History Goldmine on Westlaw
Presenter: Elinor Cheung, Senior Product Developer, Thomson West
Date: Monday, April 14, 2008
Time: 2:00 pm, EST Register for this meeting: https://tlr.webex.com/tlr/j.php?ED=91601012&RG=1

Topic: Getting To Know Your Clients Needs:
Using Surveys As A Marketing Tool
Presenter: Nina Platt, President & CEO, Nina Platt Consulting Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Time: 2:00 pm EST
Register for this meeting: https://tlr.webex.com/tlr/j.php?ED=91938272&RG=1

Topic: A Federal Legislative History Goldmine on Westlaw
Presenter: Elinor Cheung, Senior Product Developer, Thomson West
Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Time: 2:00 pm, EST Register for this meeting: https://tlr.webex.com/tlr/j.php?ED=91601062&RG=1

Representatives from Lexis have offered to work with individual libraries to develop programs in observance of National Library Week.

These are only a few of the many examples of how National Library Week is being observed in all types of libraries throughout the nation.

In closing I would like to look back to Thomas Jefferson’s contribution to librarianship through his wonderful collection of books which eventually became the foundation of the U.S. Library of Congress. Although it was published just before the beginning of National Library week, Amy Orndorff has written an article in the Washington Post which discusses Thomas Jefferson in terms of the importance of his books and their contribution to the foundation of the Library of Congress and by extension the libraries of our nation.

Click here to see her article, “Re Created Library Speaks Volumes About Jefferson,