National Library Week

APR 04, 2022

April POTM

Allison Rein

National Library Week lead image — National Library Week

In honor of National Library Week , today we are celebrating the role of libraries and librarians!

Sponsored by the American Library Association,

National Library Week is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.
In the mid-1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less on books and more on radios, televisions and musical instruments. Concerned that Americans were reading less, the ALA and the American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit citizens organization called the National Book Committee in 1954. The committee’s goals were ambitious. They ranged from “encouraging people to read in their increasing leisure time” to “improving incomes and health” and “developing strong and happy family life.”
In 1957, the committee developed a plan for National Library Week based on the idea that once people were motivated to read, they would support and use libraries. With the cooperation of ALA and with help from the Advertising Council, the first National Library Week was observed in 1958 with the theme “Wake Up and Read!” The 2018 celebration marked the 60th anniversary of the first event.

The theme for National Library Week 2022, “Connect with Your Library,” promotes the idea that libraries are places to get connected to technology by using broadband, computers, and other resources. Libraries also offer opportunities to connect with media, programs, ideas, and classes—in addition to books. Most importantly libraries also connect communities to each other. Overall, the theme is an explicit call to action—an invitation for communities to join, visit, or advocate for their local libraries. Below is a detailed list each day of action this week:

Monday, April 4: State of America’s Libraries Report released, including Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2021.
Tuesday, April 5: 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 6: National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day), a day to celebrate library outreach and the dedicated library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are.
Thursday, April 7: Take Action for Libraries Day , a day to rally advocates to support libraries.

First up, we must celebrate the polymath Maria Mitchell (1818-1889). In addition to her more famous work as an astronomer, including discovering and naming her own comet in 1847, Maria Mitchell was also the first librarian at the Nantucket Atheneum, a position she held for 20 years. For more about Maria Mitchell, check out this blog from the Library of Congress.

Portrait of Maria Mitchell

AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives. Mitchell Maria A1

Librarians often shy away from the spotlight, and are stereotypically known for their cardigans and shushing skills, but the library as a physical place is universally beloved. When not used for research or studying, they are great places to take photos. Despite books and papers loving daylight as much as your average vampire, libraries often contain more windows than people, and thus offer great natural light for such photo shoots. It doesn’t hurt that a background of bookshelves lends gravitas to any modeling session. Here, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar is seen posing in an unnamed library. What better place to look so serious, scholarly, and sophisticated?

Chandrasekhar posing in a library.

AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives, Physics Today Collection. Chandrasekhar Subrahmanyan A10.

If you didn’t believe me about the windows, here is more proof that architects don’t often talk to librarians about what’s good for books. From the Library of Congress : “Common examples of damage from ambient (that is, normal, everyday) light include: faded ink inscriptions, yellowed newspaper clippings, now-magenta chromogenic (color) photographs, dark and brittle paper edges of books.” Though we do know that people love and need light, it can be tough to balance the needs of the people working and using the library, with the needs of the materials being stored in the library. The books can’t wear sunscreen; please give them more shade.

Freeman Memorial Science Library at Lake Forest College.

Bill Hedrich, Hedrich-Blessing, courtesy of AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives. Lake Forest College H2.

Again, posing with books just looks cool. Please don’t tell TikTok. Librarians will never know peace again. (Just kidding, we’d welcome them! Libraries are for everyone.)

Robert Oppenheimer in the Pauli Library at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).

CERN, courtesy of AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives. Oppenheimer J Robert B3.

The award for coziest library goes to…

I’m not sure how much work I could get done in such a comfortable space, but I appreciate the dark curtains to protect the books from the light.

George Hale Library.

AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives. Hale George H9.

This library looks much more appropriate for studying. Lots of light and seating, but nothing too plush that could cause accidental napping. Everyone looks very studious and there are no sneaky coffee cups hanging out in the background. We prefer closed water bottles because spills are so heartbreaking.

Students Study in Library.

AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives, Dodge Collection. Dodge Homer H20.

Now here’s where I sneak in a photo of our own reading room. I must admit, sometimes the light is blinding, but it’s a lovely airy space and we keep most of our collections in the windowless stacks above and below the reading room so we can dedicate this space to serving human comfort needs. Here you can see Nancy Grace Roman, a beloved long-term researcher at the Niels Bohr Library & Archives and Mother of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Nancy Roman at the American Institute of Physics in the Niels Bohr Library.

AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives. Roman Nancy B25.

Last but not least, here is a photo of the library at the University of Göttingen on May 4, 1945, which was bombed out in World War II. Libraries are meant to be safe spaces for everyone, but they are also subject to the whims of political upheaval and natural disasters. Whenever possible, libraries and librarians try to dedicate themselves to serving their users, above and beyond the mere duties of supplying a comfy couch or reading material, but sometimes even that ability is challenged. Whether it’s from bombs or book-bans, libraries, like the people they serve, are constantly at risk.

University of Gottingen Library.

U.S. Army photograph, courtesy AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives. University of Gottingen H2.

Here are just a few examples of how libraries and librarians respond to their communities:

“Baltimore’s Library Stays Open During Unrest.” American Libraries Magazine, 8 May 2018, americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/qa-carla-hayden-baltimore.
Chappell, Bill. “Ukraine’s Libraries Are Offering Bomb Shelters, Camouflage Classes, and Yes, Books.” NPR, NPR, 9 Mar. 2022, https://www.npr.org/2022/03/09/1085220209/ukraine-libraries-bomb-shelters .
Correal, Annie. “Once It Was Overdue Books. Now Librarians Fight Overdoses.” The New York Times, 28 Feb. 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/nyregion/librarians-opioid-heroin-overdoses.html .
Magazine, Ala. “The Library as Lifeline: Getting Past Superstorm Sandy.” American Libraries Magazine, 29 Feb. 2016, americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2012/12/28/the-library-as-lifeline-getting-past-superstorm-sandy .
Natanson, Hannah. “Schools nationwide are quietly removing books from their libraries.” The Washington Post, 22 March 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/03/22/school-librarian-book-bans-challenges/
Rahman, Sarah. “What Are The Library Freedom Project and Abolitionist Library Association?” BOOK RIOT, 7 Oct. 2021, bookriot.com/library-freedom-project .
“Timbuktu’s ‘Badass Librarians’: Checking Out Books Under Al-Qaida’s Nose.” NPR All Things Considered, 23 April 2016, https://www.npr.org/2016/04/23/475420855/timbuktus-badass-librarians-checking-out-books-under-al-qaidas-nose .
“The Library Saved My Life: LGBTQ Books 2017” Publishers Weekly, 26 May 2017, https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/73750-the-library-saved-my-life-lgbtq-books-2017.html .