This is National Library Week!
This is the biggest week of the year to celebrate libraries of all types in communities of all sizes all across the country—this is National Library Week April 4-10! Sponsored since 1958 by the American Library Association, the theme this year is “Welcome to Your Library,” focusing on the idea that library service extends far beyond the building and conveying that everyone is welcome to experience what libraries have to offer.
From ALA’s website “ During the pandemic libraries have been going above and beyond to adapt to our changing world by expanding their resources and continuing to meet the needs of their users. Whether people visit in person or virtually, libraries offer opportunities for everyone to explore new worlds and become their best selves through access to technology, multimedia content, and educational programs.”
Actress Natalie Portman is the Honorary Chairperson for National Library Week 2021. Her role is to highlight the essential role that libraries, librarians, and library workers play in serving their communities, especially during challenging times.
Special Recognition Days Throughout The Week
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Monday April 5: The State of America’s Libraries Report 2021 is expected to be released later today. This annual publication includes the Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of the previous year. More about the findings of the 2021 report in future issues of the Eye-Opener.
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Tuesday April 6: National Library Workers’ Day, especially for library trustees, managers, and users to recognize the daily contributions made by all library staff
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Wednesday April 7: Library Giving Day, a one-day focused goal: to urge people who use and enjoy their local library to donate to their local library. Lots of resources available on National Library Giving Day’s website.
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Thursday April 8: A Conversation with Dan Rather. Veteran journalist Dan Rather helps celebrate NLW with a presentation about his book What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism (6:30PM central time) This interview is scheduled April 8 which is Take Action For Libraries Day, when ALA rallies advocates to urge support for continued federal funding for libraries. This event is free, but registration is required as space is limited; register at the I Love Libraries website.
Click the button below to find NLW public service announcements, social media messages, posters, bookmarks, t-shirts and a Day-By-Day Guide to NLW. Be sure to share your NLW stories with each other on Library Talk.
Cheers to a fun and successful week!
And Free Zoo Passes, Too
If you have some room in your summer schedule, Des Moines’ Blank Park Zoo staff is traveling again, resuming in-person programming beginning April 15.
The Zoo’s children’s themes this summer are Tales of Tails, Rockin’ in the Rainforest, What’s a Reptile? and Animals Have Class. And new in 2021: specialized adult programs surrounding these themes: Tarzan of the Apes (a book study) They Still Roam Among Us, and What’s New at the Zoo?
Plans For This Summer
A statement from Blank Park Zoo in early February explained their protocols for summer 2021:
- For live shows, Ambassador Animals will be limited to 8 hours (round trip) of out of enclosure time. This means animals will only be able to travel to programs that allow them to be back within 8 hours of their departure from Blank Park Zoo
- Only 2 Ambassador Animals will be visiting each program. Program lengths will still be 45-60 minutes. Reducing the number of animals visiting locations will increase the amount of time each animal is able to spend outside of their crates and allow audiences more time to observe and learn about each animal. Reducing the number of animals traveling on programs also allows the Zooto provide the appropriate amount of “time off” or amount of time that animals are not leaving their enclosures which reduce animal stress levels.
- Ambassador Animal visitors cannot be touched by audience members. Zoo officials have found that animals experience higher levels of stress when they are touched by large groups of people. With this change, staff will bring more artifacts and biofacts that audience members can explore and touch during or immediately following programs.
How Does This Affect Your Library?
- The Zoo’s changes to their summer 2021 program encourages collaboration among libraries close to Des Moines. For instance, libraries located less than eight hours round-trip from Des Moines can collaborate on scheduling and sharing mileage costs, as long as the round-trip time is under eight hours. Example given: the libraries in Cedar Falls, Waterloo, and Dysart could book the Zoo on the same day and share mileage if each library books just one hour of programming (3 hours of programming + 4.5 hours of travel)
- For libraries farther away from Des Moines, Zoo staff will offer virtual animal programming, supplying the necessary technology for the virtual programs
- Virtual animal visits include visits with any of the Ambassador Animals or any of the exhibit animals. Virtual animal visits finally give Zoo staff the opportunity to “bring” a rhino, giraffe, or tiger to Iowa libraries!
Again this year, Blank Park Zoo is giving away free passes to families planning a trip to Des Moines this summer. To order Zoo passes to give away @ your library, contact Dori Buls at Central District Office ( dori.buls@iowa.gov / 515.281.5790) To book a Blank Park Zoo program @ your library, call 515-974-2550 or email education@blankparkzoo.net.
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Earth's Bounty Program April 22, 2021
The Iowa Center for the Book will be holding a virtual event for the Earth's Bounty program which centers on Iowa’s agricultural heritage. This event is scheduled for Thursday April 22 at 7:00PM and will feature two guest speakers: a history professor and a farmer storyteller. Both speakers will address the state’s rich history of agriculture, as well as modern challenges and triumphs of farming in Iowa. Following their presentations, the speakers will take questions from the audience submitted via chat.
Library staff, please help us spread the word about this program … here’s how
Everyone interested should register by clicking the button below to receive the Zoom room link. Note that individuals are expected to register themselves, so share the ZOOM registration and not the webinar room link. Please register by April 22 for Earth’s Bounty Program.
Earth’s Bounty in Iowa, developed and organized by the Iowa Center for the Book at the State Library of Iowa, is the result of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities; this grant makes possible two-year programming on Iowa’s agricultural history.
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