National Library Week: Ready, Set, Read!

 "A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life." - Henry Ward Beecher

We couldn't agree more. Come visit your local library. A quiet place to study, relax, work, or simply escape in a good book. It's fun, the old-fashioned way.

Richey (Montana) Public Library, 2022. 

Google history of Richey public library, and you will eventually find the Town of Richey website with a link to the library. The webpage is “Coming Soon, Stay Tuned,” so readers are greeted with the welcome written above. 

Richey, Montana, population 164, is getting a new library (visit their Facebook page to see the progress). 

Because libraries connect communities.

Libraries enrich lives. 

Libraries surprise us …

with new books. 

old classics. 

book clubs. 

cookie making. 

lending areas. 

safe spaces. 

with friends. 

Libraries support us in unimaginable ways. 

To honor the greatness of libraries and those who work in them, the American Library Association has named April 7-13 National Library Week with the theme Ready, Set, Library!

Meg Medina, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and Newbery and Pura Belpré-award winning author will serve as 2024 Honorary Chair. 

I had the great pleasure of meeting Meg Medina when she was a roundtable presenter at a session I chaired at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) annual convention. We emailed back and forth to discuss logistics and when I met her, she was kind, loving, and a gentle spirit.

Middle Grade	Merci Suárez Changes Gears  Received a Newbery Medal and was a New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book of the Year
	Merci Suárez Can’t Dance
	Merci Suárez Plays It Cool
Picture Books	Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away
	Tía Isa Wants a Car
	Mango, Abuela, and Me
Young Adult Books	Burn Baby Burn
	Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass

Some of Meg Medina’s fantastic books

Medina will highlight four days to celebrate libraries, all of which are outlined on the ALA website.

Monday, April 8: Right to Read Day

The organizers are asking citizens to unite, take action, and raise their voice in the #RightToRead. 

Tuesday, April 9: National Library Workers Day

Recognize the valuable contributions made by library workers. #NLWD24

Wednesday, April 10: National Library Outreach Day

Dedicated library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are. #LibraryOutreachDay

Thursday, April 11: Take Action for Libraries Day

One of the most beautiful lines from the website: 

“Libraries are nonpartisan, but they are not indifferent.”

The ALA website offers free tools and graphics to promote National Library Week. In 2022, I saw a powerhouse presentation with authors Medina, Malinda Lo, George Johnson, Jerry Kraft, and Nic Stone at the National Council of Teachers of English annual convention in Anaheim, California. 

They shared ways characters in their books work to make change happen. In their communities. In their lives. 

Everyday Advocacy in ELA presentation 

with Meg Medina, Malinda Lo, George Johnson, 

Jerry Kraft, and Nic Stone at NCTE, 2022. 

Here is a list of books written by each author: 

Author	Book
Malinda Lo	Last Night at the Telegraph Club, National Book Award, Stonewall Book Award A Scatter of Light Ash
George Johnson	All Boys Aren’t Blue We are Not Broken Flamboyants: The Queer Harlem Renaissance I Wish I’d Known
Jerry Kraft	New Kid School Trip Class Act (graphic novels)
Nic Stone	Dear Martin (I have a signed copy!) Jackpot Chaos Theory

Libraries provide free access to the award-winning books penned by these authors and more. Libraries have existed since the ancient world to provide a service to the public.

Visit your library and take time to celebrate your local library and librarian.