National Library Week 2025 will be celebrated Sunday, April 6th through Saturday, April 12th. Days of note during that week are:
Monday, April 7: Right to Read Day is a National Day of Action in support of the freedom to read. The State of America's Libraries Report is released, including the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2024.
Tuesday, April 8: National Library Workers Day, a day for everyone to recognize the valuable contributions made by library workers.
Wednesday, April 9: National Library Outreach Day, a day dedicated to the library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are.
Thursday, April 10: Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to rally advocates to support libraries.
* Belk Library Event- Wednesday April 9th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm- Watauga County Public Library's outreach van will be on Sanford Mall to sign students up for public library cards. On and Thursday April 10th from 1:00-4:00pm- the Watauga County Public Library will have a table set out in the atrium of the Belk Library to sign students up for public library cards.
* Hickory Library Event- Friday April 11th from 12:00pm to 2:00pm- Catawba County Public Library's Library To Go outreach van will be at the North Parking Lot to sign students up for public library cards.
See below for more information on these special celebrations on campus!
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Millions of people across the country visit their libraries every week. What’s the draw? Everything.
From young families stopping in for play and storytime, to students sketching out their next creative project in a makerspace, to seniors seeking tech help and everyone in between, libraries of all kinds help us connect the dots from one part of our journey to the next. Chart your next literary adventure by browsing the stacks or joining a book club. Let an author color your imagination at an author talk, outline your big business idea at an entrepreneur workshop, or trace your history with your library’s genealogy resources. Make your mark and get involved with your library by volunteering or spreading the word.
Whatever draws you in, the library has something for everyone. Celebrate National Library Week, April 6 - 12, 2025!
American Library Association. (2025, March 7). National Library Week. https://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek
"The 67th National Library Week theme is “Drawn to the Library,” to draw communities into the library. The week highlights the importance of libraries of all kinds to the communities they serve. Telgemeier and McCloud illustrated materials for libraries, including posters and a bookmark.
“We are grateful to Raina and Scott for spreading the word about libraries during National Library Week,” said ALA President Cindy Hohl. “These two talented artists are the perfect spokespeople for libraries, and their message will resonate with people of all ages. Libraries go beyond the written word, and the art in ‘The Cartoonists Club’ will help readers find their own creative expression.”
Telgemeier is the #1 New York Times bestselling, multiple Eisner Award–winning creator of Smile, Sisters, and Guts, which are all graphic memoirs based on her childhood. She is also the creator of Drama and Ghosts, the adapter and illustrator of the first four Baby-sitters Club graphic novels, and, with Scott McCloud, the co-creator of The Cartoonists Club. Facing Feelings: The Art of Raina Telgemeier is a companion catalog for an exhibition held at The Ohio State University’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. Telgemeier lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. To learn more, visit her online at goraina.com.
McCloud is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art; Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels; Zot!; and The Sculptor. He is also, with Raina Telgemeier, the co-creator of The Cartoonists Club. Scott is a frequent lecturer on the power of visual communication, creator of the international 24-hour comic movement, and, in 2021, was inducted into the Will Eisner Awards Hall of Fame. He lives with his family in Oregon. McCloud’s art and stories are available in more than 30 languages and on the web at scottmccloud.com."
American Library Association. (2025, December 5). Telgemeier, McCloud chosen as National Library Week honorary chairs [Press release]. https://www.ala.org/news/2024/12/telgemeier-mccloud-chosen-national-library-week-honorary-chairs
🎨 Creative Kit Giveaway – Unleash Your Inner Artist! ✏️
We’re excited to announce our Creative Kit Giveaway, designed to ignite your imagination and fuel your creativity! Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting to explore the world of drawing, this giveaway is for YOU!
Each Creative Kit includes:
The theme for this giveaway is all about Drawing—so get ready to express your creativity in a way that only YOU can! Whether you’re sketching a masterpiece or simply doodling for fun, we want to see how you use these tools to bring your imagination to life.
Creative Kits will be available at Belk Library Monday, April 7th, while supplies last.
"For National Library Week, we’re 'Drawn to the Library.' What can you find at the library? In a word: FREEDOM. For Right to Read Day, which takes place Monday, April 7, 2025, we’re “Drawn to Freedom” — the freedom to read, the freedom to access information, the freedom to find community — all of the opportunities our libraries provide.
The freedom to read has been under attack for years now. But the censorship attacks on libraries aren’t just book bans. The individuals and groups behind the attacks on libraries are threatening programs, cutting funding, and trying to pass laws that target library workers and educators.
The relentless attacks on library workers, educators, and community members are meant to create an environment of fear in which people are afraid to buy books, afraid to check out books, afraid to teach a diversity of viewpoints, and afraid to even report censorship.
Unite Against Book Bans was started to push back against these attempts to silence and frighten communities and show that the majority of people do not support censorship and the attacks on libraries. We need to show up for our libraries and library workers and let them know that they are not alone. We need to show up for freedom.
For #RightToReadDay, we’re asking you to celebrate — and defend — the freedoms that are found in our libraries!"
Unite Against Book Bans. (2025, March 10). Right to Read Day. https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/right-to-read-day/
Now is the perfect time to highlight the critical role library workers play in keeping our libraries running. Let’s celebrate and recognize the amazing STARS who work in libraries. Host festivities as you take this time to flood social media (using the hashtag #NLWD25) with words of gratitude for all library workers. We can start by nominating library workers as Stars for the ALA-APA Galaxy of Stars.
Nominations may come from library users, students, children, colleagues, faculty, or management. Please visit the Galaxy of Stars to see your nomination. It will be updated weekly.
Check out the Star-Gaze by State at the bottom of the page.
American Library Association. (2025, March 12). National Library Workers Day. https://ala-apa.org/nlwd/
"National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day) celebrates library outreach and the dedicated library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are. Whether it's a bookmobile stop at the local elementary school, services provided to community homes, or library pop-ups at community gatherings, these services are essential to the community. Each year, National Library Outreach Day is celebrated on Wednesday of National Library Week. In 2025, National Library Outreach Day will be April 9.
National Library Outreach Day is an opportunity for library advocates to make their support known—through thanking library staff, writing a letter or e-mail to their libraries, or voicing their support to community leaders.
National Library Outreach Day is coordinated by the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS), the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS), and the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL)."
American Library Association. (2025, March 7). National Library Outreach Day. https://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek/national-library-outreach-day
For National Library Week (April 7-11, 2025), the Watauga County Public Library Outreach Van will be stationed on Sanford Mall on Wednesday April 9th from 1-4pm. OnThursday April 10th from 1 to 4 pm, the Watauga County Public Library will have a table in the Belk Library Atrium from 1-4pm. This exciting initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to make library resources easily accessible to students, faculty, and staff.
The visits will include interactive activities, displays, and opportunities for students to sign up for a library card (bring a photo ID and proof of local address), providing them with access to a wealth of literary resources that will serve them now and well beyond graduation. For more information, check out this link.
Invite your members of Congress to a virtual or in-person tour of your library! Showcasing the successes - and needs - of your library to your elected officials is a great way to establish relationships with elected leaders. Check out the in-person tour checklist, and learn more about how to successfully welcome Congress into your library with our dedicated tour resource page which includes recorded sample tours.
American Library Association. (2025, April 1).Take Action for Libraries Day. https://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/take-action-for-libraries-day
American Library Association. (2025, April 4). Show Up for Our Libraries. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/show-up-for-our-libraries
✨📚 Literary Dress-Up Day! 📚✨
Get ready to step into the pages of your favorite book! On Friday, April 11th, we’re celebrating all things literary by encouraging you to dress as a beloved fictional character, rock your favorite book-inspired socks or t-shirt, or even “twin” a matching outfit with a fellow reading enthusiast. Let’s make this day a story to remember—whether you’re channeling a classic hero or a quirky sidekick, this is your chance to bring your favorite book to life!
Don’t forget to share your creative looks with us #appstatelibraries and tag your fellow bookworms! 📖💫
