Welcome to National Library Week and EveryLibrary's New Resource You Have to Checkout

Click this image to enter the National
Library Week landing page

 

Welcome to National Library Week, an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries and library professionals play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.

Click here to to enter the ALA's National Library Week and access the toolkit to celebrate.

Also, click here for the State of America's Libraries 2025 Report.

Now look, I know in libraries we started preparing for National Library Week months in advance, but I am posting here, today, as it begins for a few reasons.

One, be aware that your patrons are getting information about National Library Week from across the media spectrum. Michael Threets and people from the ALA will be on TV, radio, newspapers, and all over their social media feeds. 

Two, know the official messaging by familiarizing yourself with the official page. Know this messaging because you will hear it repeated by the people who visit. Be familiar with what they are going to be hearing and make sure you are ready to respond.

Three, there will be new people interacting with the library this week. People who are not library users will become our audience. Please remember that many people are sure how today's library works. They might be surprised by how vibrant and (quite honestly) loud our spaces are. Make sure you are explaining how things work clearly. Don't use abbreviations and lingo Clearly explain every step. You might think Libby is easy, for example, but to someone who is coming to the library the first time in many years, even if they use things like Kindle and Audible, it is a completely different platform and a completely different mentality with how to use it. Remember, the idea of waiting for items and finding something else while you wait is not something non-library users are used to. 

They also aren't used to the pre-paid nature of library use. And that is point four. Don't tell them your services are free. Library services and materials are all PREPAID. Everyone coming in has already paid for what you are offering. Remind them of that. NEVER tell them it is free because that is NOT true. Every single person in your community has paid for their library whether they use it or not. Applaud them for getting their money's worth. Remind them of the amazing return on investment (ROI), but NEVER, EVER tell them it is free. 

[I have a much longer post about this here.]

So that is why you need to know about National Library Week going into today. 

National Library Week is also a time that other groups announce new initiatives, and EveryLibrary has a really good one. Read. Lead. Run. From the landing page:

Libraries are among the most trusted public institutions in the United States, yet the policies that shape their future are set by elected officials. City councils decide local budgets. School boards determine whether certified school librarians are funded. State legislatures write the laws that protect or restrict intellectual freedom. Congress determines federal investment in literacy, broadband access, and national library programs.

Here’s why this matters: nearly 70% of races in the United States go unopposed. That means too many decisions about libraries are being made without champions like you in the room. When library supporters run for office, we change what’s possible for funding, access, and the future of our communities.

You already believe in libraries. Now it’s time to lead.

When readers and library supporters like you step into leadership roles, they bring the values of access, curiosity, and service to the heart of government, helping shape the future of their communities.

That's why people like you need to run for office today!

EveryLibrary helps public, school, and college libraries win funding at the ballot box, ensuring stable funding and access to libraries for generations to come. We also support grassroots groups across the country defend and support their local library against book banning, illicit political interference, and threats of closure. So it makes sense that their next step is to help Library supports run for Boards.

As someone who ran for my Library Board and was elected 6 times, and as someone who has taken the time to inspire others to run (more than I can count on 1 hand are currently serving), I wholeheartedly support this.

Please visit Read. Lead. Run and think about how you can take the next step to be part of the solution. Democracy requires average people step up and lead. What are you waiting for? Help and advice? Well now you have it. 

Celebrate Nation Library Week for yourself (not just your patrons) by seriously considering how you can take the next step in your support of your local school or public library. Read. Lead. Run.