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There's More to the Story: Celebrating National Library Week

Tuesday, April 25, 2023


National Library Week is April 23-29, 2023

National Library Week celebrates stories which help us understand the world around us and connect to others and the world. This year’s National Library Week theme, fittingly, is There’s More to the Story. To help celebrate the week and the importance of public libraries, Assistant State Superintendent Dr. Darrell Williams is traveling around the state and visiting with staff and patrons at local public libraries. To kick off the week, Dr. Williams wrote an editorial that celebrates librarians and touts the endless offerings available at your local library.   

Your local public library contains stories in the form of chapter books, e-books, magazines, and movies, but libraries also provide resources and space to help library patrons understand and create their own stories.

Our public libraries host unique and welcoming events all year long, and especially during National Library Week! Check out the programs happening at these local libraries, as well as your local library. There’s much more to the story, and so many stories yet to discover, all at the library.

  • Rice Lake Public Library patrons’ are helping fill the library with art during National Library Week. They invite community members to create mini canvas works of art or “Peeps” dioramas to celebrate and show their love for libraries.
  • The IFLS Library System is kicking off their Passport Program during National Library Week. Patrons can visit MORE libraries to collect passport stamps for a chance to win prizes. At the same time, they can also explore their beautiful communities with unique local businesses, parks, museums, and more!
  • A Homeschooling Group at the W.J. Niederkorn Public Library in Port Washington will be painting bookends to be displayed in the library.
  • Colby Community Library will host a series of “April Showers Bring Reading Hours” programs that will include hanging umbrellas from the ceiling and supplying First Baby Bags filled with baby items that are literary-based to the first babies born during NLW at the Marshfield Medical Center.
  • Hales Corners Public Library is hosting two fun events. Collector-Con, where fans can “geek out” over their favorite movie, comic, TV show, or book; and Super(hero) Saturday where kids can enjoy superhero activities and dress up as their favorite superhero.
  • Kaukauna Public Library has several programs and activities including a Teen Poetry Wall for creative minds, a Summer Learning Program fundraiser, a Llamas in the Library scavenger hunt, and a chance to make your very own superhero READ poster.

Wisconsin’s 382 local public libraries build community in safe, accessible spaces, and provide programming for all ages. They spark creativity with makerspaces. They are quiet (or not so quiet!) places for parents and caregivers to meet for coffee while the kids build their social emotional skills through interactive play. They are a spot by the fireplace for the local knitting group, and an afterschool gathering space for teens to catch up on homework and socialize. We celebrate them this month, and all year around.

This item was submitted by Jeni Schomber, Library Consultant, and Beth Tomev, Assistant Director of Library Services, both of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.