National Library Week is an annual celebration organized by the American Library Association that highlights the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. This year, National Library Week will take place from April 4th -April 10th.
Celebrate National Library Week with the Albany Public Library! The easiest way is to simply visit your library this week! Take time to connect with your library during National Library Week to see all they have to offer. Albany Public Library branches are slowly reopening for browsing and in-person services. Reservations are recommended. More information on in-person services may be found here. You can also visit the Library Calendar to find out about online programs, visit the library catalog to request books and media for curbside pickup, or install the Libby or Overdrive app to borrow e-books or audiobooks from the library. Whether you’re visiting in person or virtually, libraries offer the opportunity to explore new worlds through access to technology, multimedia content, and educational programs.
You’ll need a library card to access most library services. If you don’t have one, call your local branch.
The Friends & Foundation of APL invite you to celebrate with us this week. Join us for our annual Distinguished Author Lecture with novelist and poet Sapphire on Tuesday, April 6. And, we are hosting social media contests for each day of the week with daily prizes. Each contest will have three winners, one from Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter every day. More information on each day’s activities below.
And, if you include the hashtag #MyLibraryIs and tag @AlbanyNYLibrary then you could win a $100 Visa gift card from ALA!
Friday April 2 through Sunday April 4
Warm up weekend!
Share your Library Love! We will be sharing #ILoveMyLibrary testimonials all week long! If you would like us to post a testimonial from you, send us a headshot and quote by Sunday, April 4th.Tell us why you love Albany Public Library, or share your favorite Albany Public Library memory. (And, if you don’t send us your quote, don’t worry! Just post your own #ILoveMyLibrary message on your own social media this week! Be sure to tag @FFofAPL or @AlbanyNYLibrary, so we can find your post.
Social Media Contest: Show us what you are reading! Share a photo to social media of your curbside pickup books or a screenshot of your bookshelf on Overdrive. Use the hashtag #NLWCurbside to enter the contest. You could win a copy of “Spilt Milk” by Courtney Zoffness,] “Mother For Dinner” by Shalom Auslander, or “Air Traffic” by Gregory Pardlo. These books are the featured works discussed in each of our How Hard Could It Be? author talks hosted by 2020 Literary Legend Elisa Albert on the second Wednesday of each month through May!
Monday April 5: State of America’s Libraries (and reading up on Sapphire!)
Let’s Check In: The American Library Association will release the annual “State of America’s Libraries Report.”
Grab A Puzzle: Stop by an APL branch and pick up a National Library Week word puzzle. If you are picking up curbside, they should be dropping the puzzle in your bag.
Social Media Contest: Share your favorite quote with us from a book you are reading. Be sure to use the hashtag #NLWMyFavoriteQuote to be included in our contest. One winner from each platform (Instagram, Facebook and Twitter) will receive a book of their choice by our 2021 Distinguished Author Sapphire. (Check out her books in the catalog to see which one you would prefer.)
Tuesday April 6: National Library Workers Day and FFAPL Lecture with Sapphire
Social Media Contest: Say “Thank You!” to your favorite librarian on #NLWD using #NLWThankYouLibrarians. One winner from each platform (Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter) will receive a tote-bag and a book-mark… and your favorite librarian will win a gift card!
NY Library Workers Day: If you feel like sharing a Thank You video, then be sure to tag #NYLibraryWorkersDay and the New York Library Association may also share your post! Post a 30-60 second video thanking a #NYLibraryWorker. NYLA also has social media frames and sample messages for every day of “New York Library Week.”
Submit a Star: Would you like to tell the whole country about the Albany Public Library staff? Show your appreciation for the work they do throughout the year: “Submit a Star” by visiting http://bit.ly/librarystar. Patrons are welcome to share stories on how library staff have an impact on their lives or community. Each testimonial will be posted in the “Galaxy of Stars” on the NLWD website.
April 6 at 12:00pm Reading and discussion with Sapphire, author of PUSH and The Kid.
NLW Distinguished Author Lecture:
Join the FFAPL for our annual Distinguished Author Lecture with the Sapphire! Her work has been translated into thirteen languages and has been adapted for stage in the United States and Europe. Her poetry, fiction, and essays have appeared in The Black Scholar, The New York Times Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, The Teacher’s Voice, The New Yorker, Spin, and Bomb. You must register to get the Zoom link. Register on Libcal, call your local branch, or text “TUESDAY” to 518-547-1005 to receive the Zoom link.
Signed copies of Sapphire’s forthcoming Push (Revised) 25th Anniversary Edition are available for pre-order from Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza. The book will be published in June.
Wednesday April 7: Library Giving Day and New Legends!
Give to your library: Wednesday April 7th is #LibraryGivingDay and will be the last day of our 2020-2021 Annual Appeal.The Annual Appeal directly funds library programs proposed by staff. Our 2020-2021 Annual Appeal aims to raise at least $15,000 from at least 250 donors. As of March 31, we have raised just over $13000 from 148 donors. Give big, give small, and tell a friend!
#LibraryGivingDay is a one-day fundraising event with the goal of encouraging people who depend on and enjoy public libraries to donate to their individual library system. And in turn, that support will go toward the incredible programs, services and materials provided by local libraries all over the country.
Social Media Contest: Visit our website or social media pages on Wednesday to learn the names of our 2021 Literary Legends! Share your favorite quote from one of our 2021 Literary Legend using #NLWLegendQuote. Three winners will get a book from an Albany Literary Legend!
Thursday April 8: Take Action for Libraries Day
Social Media Contest: Why do you #LoveYourLibrary? Share a quote or photo showing why you #LoveYourLibrary (Or a poll, like what is your favorite branch?) Three winners will receive an 2020 Albany Reads t-shirt (in size of your choice), and a pair of APL socks! (Remember to tag @AlbanyNYLibrary and add the hashtag #MyLibraryIs to enter the ALA’s contest for a free $100 gift card!)
Are You A Library Advocate? The New York Library Association invites you to share why you are a #NYLibraryAdvocate! If you have NYLA’s “Library Advocate” sunglasses or face mask, make sure to wear those in your photo or video!
Book Talk with Dan Rather
Join Booklist’s Donna Seaman and Dan Rather for a live conversation about his recent book, “What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism” in celebration of Take Action for Libraries Day, on Thursday, April 8.
Registration is free and open to all, but space is limited, so sign up now. The event is sponsored by United for Libraries, Booklist, and the American Library Association.
Friday April 9 – Saturday April 10: Wrap up and Grand Prize
Social Media Contest: Share a picture of your NLW Word Find Puzzle, available for pick up all week at any APL branch, using #NLWWordFind. Three selected winners will receive a Tote Bag & a T-Shirt!
The Grand Prize: Anyone who participates in each day of the Social Media contests will be eligible for the Grand Prize– 2 free tickets to the 2021 Literary Legends Gala!
