Find your place at the library
Sandra L. Sander, Director, Library Services,
April 19-25 2020, is National Library Week, founded in 1958 by the American Library Association in conjunction with the Advertising Council. This week is aimed at motivating Americans to read more, use, and support their libraries. Research was showing Americans were spending less time reading, and more time on radios, televisions, and musical instruments.
During National Library Week, specific days include Library Workers Day, Book Mobile Day, Library Giving Day, Take Action for Libraries Day, and Citizen Science Day. Libraries of all kinds enjoy celebrating with special events during this week, showing their appreciation to the community they serve, helping each person Find Your Place at the Library.
Even at Northampton Community College, students Find Your Place at the Library! At the Mack Library, on Bethlehem’s campus, we hire student workers and often they apply simply because they like the atmosphere of being in a library. With campuses now closed, students can’t work, and when I was emailing one of them, encouraging him to finish the semester, he replied, “…I loved working in the library…I just wanna say thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me this opportunity to work in the Mack Library. I learned so much from helping other students and from observing the other librarians.”
Ironically, as I write about libraries on this day, the COVID-19 pandemic is in full force, and many of the National Library Week special events have been canceled or moved online in some way. Libraries across Pennsylvania have buildings that are closed and bookshelves that are temporarily eerily quiet, so I can’t suggest you take a moment and stop by your favorite library to thank a librarian or library worker in person.
But wait…we’re talking about libraries here…and we never give up even when the going gets tough—especially now!!
Over the past few weeks as COVID-19 has forced library staff everywhere to work differently (from home), and deliver our services and resources differently (from a computer), we’ve been hard at work! The internet is an awesome tool, and being a resourceful bunch, we’re using it to bring reading and audio-visual resources to millions of children and adults now ordered to “Stay at Home”. A fun online “trip to the library” to explore what’s available might include your local public library, NCC’s library https://www.northampton.edu/library.htm, and the biggest library in the world, the Library of Congress, which has thousands and thousands of free online resources of all kinds.
So, during National Library Week, especially this year, remember to take a moment to send that thank you email, or post to your favorite library’s social media. And when the pandemic is passed and you can safely Find Your Place in the Library, we’d love to see you!!
ABOUT THE NORTHAMPTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE LIBRARIES
The Bethlehem Campus Paul and Harriett Mack and Monroe Campus ESSA Bank & Trust Foundation libraries maintain a diverse collection of materials to support the educational programs of the college. A comprehensive collection of books, periodicals, newspapers, audiovisual materials, and electronic resources provides students with both intellectual and cultural enrichment.
Students, faculty, and staff have 24/7 access to library electronic journals, databases, eBooks and streaming videos from off-campus. Login with your MyNCC username and password if prompted. Reference and research help will be available Monday through Saturday via email and Blackboard Collaborate chat sessions. Please visit the Library webpage for details or email askthelibrarian@northampton.edu for assistance.