Making the Internet My Accountability Partner

As an avid reader, I do have a collection of owned books that I love (and you will hear more about them soon enough). But libraries are where my love for books and reading first began and really blossomed. For me, this began in my elementary school with both classroom and school libraries. But as I started developing my reading skills and my particular interests the public library was a place I visited often. I have moved a few times throughout my life and got to experience a wide variety of public libraries from small town shelves to metropolitan branches.

This week April 7th through April 13th is National Library Week. This week we celebrate libraries and all they have to offer. Public Libraries are a fantastic and underutilized resource. Many people believe libraries are simply places to borrow books. Libraries are so much more, they are integral parts of communities. Libraries offer free resources and programming for everyone. I have loved taking advantage of webinars, lectures, and even concerts hosted by the Boston Public Library. I encourage you to celebrate library week by visiting your local library and/or their website to see if anything catches your eye. Personally, I am registered for a performance of Folk music by local BIPOC musicians, a panel on period poverty, and I plan to borrow a series that’s only on shelves at that one branch.

Throughout National Library Week there are days dedicated to specific aspects of library functions. I want to highlight April 8th Right to Read Day. This day recognizes libraries as the champions they are in the fight against censorship. Diversity of people and perspectives is what makes a society strong. While reading is a form of entertainment it also is a manner of honing your comprehension and analysis of the world around you. I encourage you to visit the American Library Association’s list of the 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books: 2010-2019 and see how many you have read and if there are any that pique your interest. If there are please support your local libraries by borrowing a challenged book.

I would love to hear how are you celebrating National Library Week. Are you attending a program hosted by your library? Are you sharing a favorite memory about a library? Are you reading a challenged book? However you choose to engage with your local library I hope you have fun!