April 19–25 is National Library Week – a time to celebrate discovery in all its forms. This year’s theme, Find Your Joy, encourages us to look beyond the obvious and discover what sparks joy for us at the library.
There is so much joy to be found there. Beyond checking out books, libraries are full of quiet corners, helpful resources, and little surprises waiting to be discovered.
Here are just a few of the things I’ve done at the library over the years:
- Browsed old magazines and newspapers
- Talked with a genealogy librarian
- Found information about starting a small business
- Checked out CDs (this is how I first listened to the Hamilton soundtrack!)
- Borrowed DVDs – movies and TV shows alike
- Printed documents
- Made copies
- Attended author talks
- Met up in a library meeting room
- Grabbed a coffee from the coffee cart
- Shopped at the library gift shop
- Donated books
- Browsed a library book sale
- Requested a book, and got to be first on the holds list
- Used a Cricut machine
Libraries are so much more than shelves of books – they’re spaces for learning, creating, connecting, and exploring. Whether you’re diving into a new story, researching a dream, or simply enjoying a quiet moment, there’s something there for everyone.
So this week, perhaps take a little time to visit your local library. You never know what kind of joy you might find.
I love my library! I mostly check out books on Libby, and I am so thankful for that service.
Libby is great! I use it occasionally, if I am checking out an ebook. But I love a physical book and holding it in my hands!