Celebrate National Library Week with AAPLD

With the theme Libraries Transform, the Algonquin Area Library District (AAPLD) invites the community to celebrate National Library Week 2016, April 10 through 16, with programs, events, and a special community project.

All week long, the Harnish Main Library and Eastgate Branch Library will serve as collection points for a food drive to benefit the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry. Visit alith-foodpantry.org for a list of needs and a printable shopping list. As a bonus, reciprocal borrowers (non-AAPLD cardholders) who owe overdue fines to AAPLD can donate non-perishable food items during National Library Week and their fines will be waived. (This incentive applies only to overdue fines owed to AAPLD.)

Parents and/or caregivers can bring the kids to either Library location National Library Week (NLW) to guess how many candies in the Library’s jar…and maybe win the entire jar of candy. Children can also decorate and bring home their own stylish bookmark to commemorate NLW. Events include classes in our new Teaching Garden, a “tour” of Venice and the coast of Croatia, a children’s dance party, a Macaroni Soup! family concert, and a Friday night genealogy workshop. Visit our calendar of events at aapld.org/do for more information.

Staff at both Library locations who donate $5 or more will have the privilege of wearing jeans to work on April 12 and 13. Proceeds will go to Pioneer Center of McHenry County, which provides direct services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health services and counseling, and homeless services in McHenry County.

NLW began in 1958 as a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the country each April to celebrate what libraries bring to their communities and to promote library use and support. It’s a great week to stop in and learn more about the Library— from how to get a Library card (it’s easy!) to how to use your Library seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Celebrate everything libraries and library staff do for their community! Your library provides access to books, DVDs, online resources, vocational training, study rooms, technology programs, crafting workshops and more. Libraries offer opportunity to all. Libraries transform.

The Algonquin Area Public Library District has 23,049 cardholders and serves more than 40,000 residents in a 30-square-mile area including portions of Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Cary, and Barrington Hills.