National Library Week Is Coming ...

April 23-29, 2023

Turning the calendar to March leads to thoughts of spring, Daylight Saving Time, and National Library Week—coming up April 23-29.  Sponsored since 1958 by the American Library Association, the theme for this year’s celebrations of libraries is “There’s More to the Story.”

Here’s more about the 2023 theme from ALA’s website: “Libraries are full of stories in a variety of formats, from picture books to large print, audiobooks to eBooks, and more. But there's so much more to the story.  Libraries of Things lend items like museum passes, games, musical instruments, and tools.  Library programming brings communities together for entertainment, education, and connection through book clubs, storytimes, movie nights, crafting classes, and lectures.  Library infrastructure provides Internet and technology access, literacy skills, and support for businesses, job seekers, and entrepreneurs. National Library Week 2023 will be a great time to tell your library’s multi-faceted story.”

Holding open houses, distributing bookmarks, offering give-aways and prizes are all great ways to acknowledge National Library Week.  In addition, ALA has designated these days for special recognition: 

• Monday April 24: State of America's Libraries Report released, including Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2022
• Tuesday April 25: National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, users, administrators, and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers
• Wednesday April 26: National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day) a day to celebrate library outreach and the dedicated library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are
• Thursday April 27: Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to rally advocates to support libraries.

About National Library Week 

NLW is an annual celebration of the valuable role that library service plays in  transforming lives and strengthening communities.  In the mid-1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less on books and more time with radio and television.  Concerned that Americans were reading less, ALA and the American Book Publishers formed a study committee in 1957 to develop a plan for a national week devoted to the importance of libraries.  The premise: once people were motivated to read more, they would support and use libraries more.  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" 

Click the button below to find NLW graphics, posters, bookmarks, social media messages, t-shirts and more. And be sure to share your plans for NLW 2023 with each other on Library Talk!

National Library Week Promo Materials

March Display Ideas ...

March Is Known For 

Turning the focus back to March, there are a host of things that the month is known for, leading to fun displays, website news, and social media posts.  St Patrick’s Day comes first to mind, but March was also Happy New Year for the ancient Romans!  In our time, March is a return to Daylight Saving Time, the first day of spring, and March Madness.  Plus these noteworthy events and historic milestones:

• March is Womens' History Month
• Alexander Graham Bell made the first-ever telephone call on March 10, 1876
• Fast forward 130 years when Twitter first launched on March 21, 2006
• President Kennedy founded the Peace Corp in March of 1961
• March is National Disability Awareness Month
• March 12 is National Girl Scout Day, 3/13 is Good Samaritan Day, 3/26 is National Spinach Day, 3/30 is National Take a Walk in the Park Day
• Especially meaningful for libraries of all types everywhere: March 16 is Freedom of Information Day.

Of all the reasons to celebrate March, perhaps
Freedom of Information Day should top the list ? 
Share photos of your library’s March display ideas on LibraryTalk

ILA Advocacy Day March 7th

The Iowa Library Association urges library trustees, directors, and staff at all levels to attend Advocacy Day tomorrow March 7th..  This annual event takes place at the State Law Library, housed inside the Capitol Building in Des Moines from 12:00-2:00PM.

From ILA’s 2023 Legislative Agenda “Libraries provide essential public services not available elsewhere. In libraries across the state, Iowans can access the Internet, attend early childhood education programs and homework help, and find resources for lifelong learning, career development, and personal enrichment. To support these vital services, the Iowa Library Association asks the General Assembly to meet the following goals in 2023:

Safeguarding intellectual freedom and the freedom to read in libraries of all types

Upholding education requirements for School Librarians, recognizing them as essential instructional staff

 State funding to ensure the ongoing success and growth of the IAShares Delivery System

Increased funding for the State Library’s Direct State Aid Program (funding awarded for meeting public library standards)

Increased funding for the State Library’s operating budget

Read the complete ILA 2023 Legislative Agenda 

Whether it’s public libraries, K-12 libraries, college/university libraries, or the State Library of Iowa. ILA works to defend challenges to intellectual freedom, while also advocating for critical funding, access to information, local control, and the importance of teacher-librarians in every school.  Moreover, ILA works to inform legislators about the vital role that libraries play communities all across the state. 

From an ILA bulletin: “This year more than ever, we need librarians and trustees to join us in person to advocate for libraries, library jobs, and Intellectual Freedom. Your voice matters and legislators want to hear from librarians in their districts. This event is NOT just for librarians. We want to show our legislators that there is strong voter support for libraries…” 

If you plan to attend ILA’s Legislative Day tomorrow, please personally invite your legislators and let them know you'll be at the Capitol and ask them to meet you there.

Read More About ILA Advocacy Day 2023

This Week ...

STEM Fairs and Summer Reading Summits Continue This Week: Algona—March 6-7 Cherokee—March 9-10

These programs are happening in each District throughout the month of March.  The STEM fairs had limited enrollment and have since filled up everywhere.  However, the Summer Reading Summits do not have similar registration limits, so there’s still time to register for those.  Here’s more information

Info STEM Fairs / Summer Reading Summits

Pop YS Live: The Dynamite Dozen—Showcasing 50 Teen Programs From 12 Simple Items.  March 8.  1:00-2:00PM

School snow day? Rainy summer day? Teens getting rambunctious? With twelve inexpensive items, AKA The Dynamite Dozen, you have access to over 50 programs to instantly break out to keep teens or tweens occupied.  The presentation will include item costs, sources, and photos of all the projects.  Cathy Pescincki, Teen Librarian from Shawano County (WI) Library presents this encore program, first presented for the WI Association of Public Libraries and again at last year’s ARSL Conference.
Register in IALearns