How do we celebrate National Library Week when no one can visit the Library?
It’s not too early to think about how you’ll celebrate National Library Week, planned this year for April 19-25. The theme for the 2020 celebration is “Find Your Place at the Library.” The American Library Association offers free promotional tools that include press releases, PSAs, and ready-made graphics.
Celebrations during National Library Week include:
- Monday, April 20: State of America’s Libraries Report released, including the Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2019.
- Tuesday, April 21: 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 22: National Bookmobile Day, a day to recognize the contributions of our nation’s bookmobiles and the dedicated professionals who make quality bookmobile outreach possible in their communities.
- Thursday, April 23: Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to rally advocates to share their library story.
National Library Week is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.
Below are 19 different ideas to help you plan your fun-filled week!
1) Dress the Part
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/g22127013/book-character-costumes/
Looking for something out of the ordinary? Encourage patrons to dress up for National Library Week following themes such as “Wacky Wednesday” (crazy socks are welcome) and “Favorite Friday” where people come dressed as their favorite book character. Could you possibly do a parade of characters who are exhibiting proper “social distancing” protocols?
2) Create an Obstacle Course
OK….so maybe patrons can’t come INSIDE the library right now, but they could come participate in your sidewalk obstacle course while they pick up any needed supplies for your live craft hours! Another idea would be to have the patrons design a message for the librarians on the sidewalks outside your library so you can see the messages of love.
3) I Love My Public Library Coloring Page Contest
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-Love-My-Public-Library-Coloring-Page-3215598
Download this FREE coloring sheet and encourages patrons to share their creations via Instagram, Facebook, or by emailing them to you so you can post them on your website.
4) Quotes to Share About Libraries
http://www.dailymayo.com/2015/02/18/quotes-about-libraries/
https://www.bookbub.com/blog/quotes-about-how-much-we-love-librarians
Use these or other quotes you may find to decorate your Instagram, Facebook, or website pages. Another great idea would be to decorate your windows so patrons can see them as they drive by.
5) Institute a Bookface Friday
http://www.literaryhoots.com/2016/07/bookface-friday-in-library.html
Have patrons take silly pictures of themselves using books as their faces and
then either post them on Instagram using your libraries #hashtag and
#bookfacefriday or send them to you via email so you could post them on your
website. Another fun option would be to
make it a contest throughout the week and announce prizes on Friday!
6) Invite Patrons to “Show Your Love for the Library” By Sending a Hug
This craft idea is a fabulous way of both keeping the kids busy and
entertained, while also spreading some love to librarians.
7) Do a Bookshelf Scavenger Hut at Home
https://www.themanylittlejoys.com/library-scavenger-hunt-for-kids-part-2-bingo-version/
Help kids to “search” for good books to read that have been in their homes all along! Whether it’s finding the biggest book, the book with the most pages, or a book about animals, kids (and adults) will have fun finding treasures they have had all along. Or for a different twist, try Scavenger Hunt Bingo version!
8) Host an Around the World Tour
https://www.123homeschool4me.com/free-18-countries-of-world-book_30/
No matter what country you visit, use these printable passports or country coloring sheets to keep track of the countries you learn about. Just as you would have a stamp in your passport for each country you’d visit, patrons can collect a “stamp” from the library to add to this printable passport for each country you learn about throughout the week.
9) Create a WordArt Using Patrons Words
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/770889661186334251/
Have each patron describe the library using only one word and, at the end of the week, create a Wordart using the words they had to say about their favorite part of the library!
10) Create a Library “Family” Newsletter
https://family.lovetoknow.com/family-activities/how-create-engaging-family-newsletter
Decide on a theme (COVID-19 seems appropriate), enlist volunteers to write stories from the community, and library staff can put together a newsletter from all the patrons in the “field” reporting on fun activities, memories, or challenges to life this spring. Better yet…make it a video newsletter and have patrons submit news clips!
11) Book Spine Poetry
National Poetry Month is a month-long, national celebration of poetry established by the Academy of American Poets. The concept is to widen the attention of individuals and the media—to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our complex poetic heritage, and to poetry books and journals. It was created to increase the visibility and availability of poetry in popular culture while acknowledging and celebrating poetry’s ability to sustain itself in the many places where it is practiced and appreciated.
12) Oh Library, How I Love Thee….
Have the community participate in a giant love letter to the library by stopping by, grabbing a heart, and telling why they love their library! This is something anyone can add to if it is posted on an outside door.
13) Host a Long-Distance Book Club
https://www.bustle.com/p/10-tips-for-hosting-a-digital-book-club-47362
Ready to join the ranks of Emma Watson Oprah, Emma Roberts, and Reese Witherspoon? Here are 10 tips and rules to follow in order to have great success!
14) Host a Hogwarts Digital Escape Room
Peters Public Township Library in McMurray, PA, created a Hogwarts Digital Escape Room. You can complete this escape room as a group or as individual. You can compete against friends and try it multiple times. Just make sure you have fun! This would be really fun to do as a Zoom meeting!
15) Create “Open When” Letters to Celebrate Your Library When We Reopen
A fun idea for when we can’t see each other in person. Ask your patrons to write letters to the library that you will “Open When” the library reopens! They can include funny pictures, stories about their favorite librarian, or what they can’t wait to do again once the library is open.
16) How to Help Librarians and Archivists from Your Living Room
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/archives-to-browse-from-home
If you’re cooped-up and curious, use your free time to decipher handwriting, tag images, and more! Some libraries are in the market for armchair archivists – volunteers who can put on their sleuth hats and decipher records and handwriting.
17) Go on a “Virtual” Journey Together
Can’t go on a trip together right now? No worries! Gather everyone together on a Zoom meeting and go on a virtual trip to somewhere fun. Maybe make it a theme for the week in everything you choose to do: virtual story time, virtual field trip, virtual craft project, etc.
18) Combine National Poetry Month & National Library Week
Find fun poems to feature on your Instagram, Facebook, or website each day that remind children and adults alike why they love their library and can’t wait until they can get back to it. There are also at home activities, read aloud videos, and more for ones to explore!
19) Treat Your Patrons with These Gifts
Coloring Bookmarks: https://www.superteacherworksheets.com/pinterest/pz-coloring-bookmarks.html
Coloring Bookmarks: https://www.botanicalpaperworks.com/blog/read,article/887/free-printables-read-grow-coloring-bookmarks-for-back-to-school
Bookworm Treats: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/15833036170792152/
Nerd Treats: http://talesofthefourthgradeteacher.blogspot.com/2012/05/istep-day-2.html
Party Favors: https://www.bookbub.com/blog/bookish-party-favors?popupdelay=0
Gumball Treats: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/58335757643736930/