76.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsLocal governmentDivision of Libraries, Archives and Museums Celebrates National Library Week April 9-15

Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums Celebrates National Library Week April 9-15

The Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums will celebrate National Library Week, April 9-15. First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April, according to a press release from the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR). This year’s theme is “Libraries transform!”                                                                                                                                     

“The library embraces the entire community, offering unlimited opportunities for personal growth and lifelong learning. They work with elected officials, small business owners, students and the public at large to discover and address the needs of their communities,” said DPNR Commissioner Dawn L. Henry Esq.

“Libraries today are more than repositories for books and other resources, and have always been a place of unlimited possibilities. Libraries have grown and evolved in how they provide for the needs of every member of their community even with the economic downturn,” said Ingrid Bough, territorial director of Libraries, Archives and Museums.

A key incentive to visit the public libraries during National Library Week is book amnesty. Library patrons are encouraged to return their overdue books and have the accrued fines waived.  Lost book fines, however, are excluded from the book amnesty.  The Virgin Islands Public Libraries Book Amnesty will run the entire month of April.

Monday, April 10

            St. Thomas – Library Patron Appreciation Day: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.          Lite refreshments will be served to library patrons outside the library, while supplies last.

            St. Croix – Library Patron Appreciation Day: Library patrons receive a free earbud for their laptop, desktop or other device, while supplies last.

Tuesday, April 11

            St. Thomas – The Friends of St. Thomas Public Libraries will serve library staff and volunteers lunch from noon to 2 p.m.

            St. John – Story Hour with the Friends of the Elaine Ione Sprauve Public Library from 10:30-11 a.m. at the Sprauve School            

Wednesday April 12

  – National Bookmobile Day

            St. Croix – The St. Croix Bookmobile will be at the Petersen Public Library in Frederiksted from 10a.m. to 3p.m.

The Florence Williams Public Library presents the “Historic Ceramic Sherds Exhibit” by Terry Vanterpool-Williams. This exhibit showcases the unique and creative art form of utilizing the local chaney based on a 20-year passion that has evolved into a creative educational display.             

            St. Thomas – Story Time, prearranged school tours, Book Signings by local authors and a Poetry Contest will be held in the Children’s Room. For more information, contact the Charles W. Turnbull Regional Library at 774-0630.

            St. John – Story Hour with the Friends of the Elaine Ione Sprauve Public Library from 10:30-11 a.m., Saturday, April 16, at Gifft Hill School            

The 35th National Library Week — Run to Your Library 5K (3.1 miles) is sponsored by the Virgin Islands Pace Runners in celebration. There is a $15 entry fee.

Registration forms can be found at: http://virginislandspace.org.  Check in is 5:15 a.m. at the Florence Williams Public, 1122 King Street.  The 5K will begin at 6 a.m. It will include laps on a route in the National Historic Site of King St., Company St. and Sunday Market Square.  Walkers are invited.

For information, contact the V.I. Pace Runners at http://virginislandspace.org or contact Wallace Willeams at wallacewilliams@msn.com or 643-2557.

During National Library Week, visit the Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Golden Rock to learn about the critical services it delivers. The Regional Library has a talking books program that provides audiotaped books and cassettes free of charge.  This library program brings reading materials in digital audio and Braille formats straight to the homes of patrons from preschoolers to centenarians.

For more information, contact Ingrid Bough, the territorial director of Libraries, Archives and Museums at 773-5715, or contact Kim Blackett, assistant director, at 774-0630.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.

UPCOMING EVENTS