Celebrate National Library Week April 12-18

Next week, the Cathlamet Public Library joins libraries in schools and communities nationwide in celebrating National Library Week.

The Cathlamet Public Library is celebrating National Library Week by promoting books by best-selling author David Baldacci, the Honorary Chair of National Library Week 2015. We are also encouraging both adults and children to “adopt” a favorite book, magazine, or DVD, by writing a short recommendation that can be displayed with it. Some additional activites include:

• Sunday: Cathlamet Public Library Website Day. See all the resources that are available on our website at http://www.cathlamet.lib.wa.us. You can check our hours and special programs and events, download e-books and audiobooks, find out what materials are in our library catalog, explore Wahkiakum County Heritage photos, locate a variety of resources for living well in Washington State, renew library materials or look at your checkout history, and even see how much value you get for the library services you use.

• Monday: Facebook Day. Go to Cathlamet Public Library’s Facebook Page (there is a link to it on our website) to list your top 10 favorite books of all time, or 10 books that have changed your life in some way, and find some literature games to play.

• Tuesday is National Library Workers Day. Come in to sign a giant “Thank You” card for all of our faithful volunteers who work at the circulation desk, restock the shelves, process books and other materials, and post new books to our website.

• Wednesday: Games Day. Bring a board game or card game, or bring some friends to play one of the library’s board games.

• Thursday is Celebrate Teen Literature Day, aimed at raising awareness that Young Adult Literature is a vibrant, growing genre with much to offer today’s teens (and thoroughly enjoyed by many adults). Don’t forget the Preschool Story/Craft Time at 4 p.m.

• Friday: Adult Writers for Young Adults and Children Day. Highlighted are familiar adult authors who have written for younger readers, too. The Library Foundation Book Sale starts today 2-5 p.m.

• Saturday is Nonfiction Day. See the variety of informational books the library has, with titles on arts and crafts, cooking, gardening, knitting and quilting, pets, travel, poetry, humor, true crime, history, and biography, and much more. Last day of the Library Foundation Book Sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“As always, we encourage patrons to recommend titles for future purchase and try to honor as many requests as we can, especially those that will appeal to a wide audience,” said Carol Blix, librarian.

Libraries are doing their part to close the digital divide and level the playing field by providing free access to information and technologies that many in their communities would be hard pressed to find elsewhere. Libraries help to ensure the American dream and promote democracy by providing service to all.

Librarians work with the public to discover and meet the needs of their communities. Whether through offering e-books and online technology classes, materials for beginning readers, resume help for job seekers or offering a safe haven in times of crisis, librarians listen to the community they serve, and they respond.

“The library has always been a place of unlimited possibilities,” said Blix. “Whatever your interest or need, the library and the library staff are here to provide you the resources you need to accomplish your goals and dreams.”

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.

For more information, visit the Cathlamet Public Library at 115 Columbia Street, call 795-3254 or see the library’s Web site at http://www.cathlamet.lib.wa.us. Libraries hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 2-5 p.m.