Submitted by the Lopez Island Library

National Library Week is April 7-13. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and library workers and to promote library use and support. Libraries offer opportunities to all — from free access to books and online resources for individuals and families, to free public programming intended to educate and stimulate the community and library business centers that help support entrepreneurship and retraining.

The theme for 2019 National Library Week is Libraries Equal Strong Communities.

Here on Lopez we know that our community makes great use of its public library and its many services, such as the free meeting room, 24/7 WiFi, notary services, the electronic vehicle charging station, musical instruments to check out, Wednesday night movies and more.

As a thank you to all our loyal patrons and partners in the community, the library is hosting a “Library Patron Appreciation and Open House” on Wednesday, April 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop by for hot dogs and snacks, and stay to talk with library staff and trustees about the library’s current and future services to the community.

The value of libraries, especially island libraries, is wonderfully articulated by author Caitlin Moran with this quote: “A library in the middle of a community is a cross between an emergency exit, a life-raft and a festival. They are cathedrals of the mind; hospitals of the soul; theme parks of the imagination. On a cold rainy island, they are the only sheltered public spaces where you are not a consumer, but a citizen instead.”

Thank you to all our patrons. We hope to see you at the Lopez Library for hot dogs and treats on April 24.