National Library Week is April 15-21, 2007

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.

"It’s National Library Week - a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries, librarians and library workers in schools, campuses and communities nationwide - and the perfect time for our community to come together @ your library."

ALA does make the whole thing sound like a public relations gimmick-- but really, isn't it worthwhile to stop and think about how much your local library means to you?

Libraries help us to learn about things that interest us; they entertain us -- with novels, movies, and music; they answer our questions; they provide a place where you can go and hear someone read you a story (ok, you typically need to have a kid with you for this, but it is still a neat thing); they offer classes in everything from knitting, to using the internet, to English-as-a-second language; and they provide a place for communities to come together.

Some time next week -- during National Library Week -- take a little time to consider why libraries are important in your life. You might even want to stop in and thank your local librarians for all that they do.