By JEN BOUTIN

BCPL

National Library Week is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.

This year’s theme, Libraries = Strong Communities, illustrates how today’s libraries are at the heart of our cities, towns, schools and campuses, providing critical resources, programs and expertise. They also provide a public space where all community members, regardless of age, culture, or income level, can come together to connect and learn.

“The beautiful thing about public libraries is that they all share core values that are really very simple and are stated in the Library Bill of Rights,” says Georgia de Araujo, library director.

The Library Bill of Rights states: “Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves; Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues; All people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use.” (Adopted June 19, 1939, by the American Library Association and reaffirmed January 29, 2019.)

“Beyond these fundamental beliefs, public libraries see themselves as integral to the success and growth of their specific communities and to the people who make up those communities,” says de Araujo. “Public libraries try to offer programs and services that are useful and important locally. Here at Boyle County Public Library, over the course of a week or a month or a year, you will see dozens of programs offered on all kinds of subjects. If you walk through the aisles you will see books on subjects you may never have heard of and from all kinds of perspectives. Some will appeal to you and some won’t. The same thing will be true for everyone who walks in the door. That is the premise of a public library put into practice.”    

During National Library Week, in addition to the regularly scheduled programs, the Boyle County Public Library will offer several events to celebrate:

• DIY Mini Book, 4:30 p.m. Monday — Tweens (ages 9-13) can build a readable mini-book they can add to their personal book collection.

• Teen Crafternoon, 4 p.m. Tuesday —  Teens (ages 13-18) can help decorate the new YA collection space by painting metal book ends with themes from their favorite YA novels.

• Escape Room: Escape the Library , 4:30 p.m. April 11 — Students (ages 9-18) can participate in a special escape room challenge to celebrate National Library Week. They will need to use teamwork and critical thinking to solve a series of challenging puzzles in order to escape the library in just one hour.

• Evening Book Club on Thursday, 6:30 p.m. April 11 — In response to patron requests, the library is bringing back a book club that meets in the evenings. This club will meet regularly on the second Thursday of each month. At the first meeting, the group will discuss Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.  This stunning, award-winning novel is written in free-verse and is a very quick read. The fast-paced story follows grief-stricken, fifteen-year-old Will as he takes the 60-second ride down the elevator in his building, determined to honor “the rules” by taking revenge for the murder of his brother. Anyone interested in participating my pick up a copy of the book at the circulation desk.