From April 6-12, National Library Week was celebrated by libraries around the country, including Gould Library on Carleton’s campus and the Northfield Public Library in downtown Northfield. The week-long event was sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and celebrated “the valuable role libraries and library professionals play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities,” according to the ALA webpage.
The ALA reports that there are nearly 125,000 libraries currently operating in the United States, with an average of 1.6 million annual visits and 4.1 million units of print books, e-books, audiobooks, DVDs and other resources currently in circulation. American libraries like those in Northfield offer approximately four million programs annually with approximately 92 million attendees.
Despite the prevalence of libraries in American public life, book challenges have had a significant impact on library operations. The ALA reports that, in 2023, there were 1,247 attempts to censor a total of 4,240 unique book titles. While the number of challenges decreased slightly in 2024, books with themes about race, gender identity and LGBTQ+ relationships or sex have been frequently challenged, especially in school libraries. Additionally, recent actions by the Trump administration have led to funding cuts in the federal Institute for Museum and Library Services, which could have an impact on rural library funding and disability-accessible library materials.
“National Library Week is all about bringing awareness to all of the things that libraries are doing for their communities,” said Acquisitions, E-resources and Outreach librarian at Gould Library Susan Shirk. “We need to remind people that if these services go away, the impact will be great, and we are an integral part of democracy and well-being for everybody.”
Northfield Public Library employees also underscored the importance of library resources in the community. [The library] serves as a safe space for people of all socioeconomic statuses,” said Nadine Villa, a library clerk. “It can be a stepping stone. Some services that we offer, like [our] headshot workshop last week, can be the services that break the one barrier that people have to improve their lives.”
Gould Library celebrated National Library Week with a different event every day from April 7-11. On Monday, April 7, there was an information session about the upcoming Human Library event. The event is an opportunity for people to challenge their prejudices by hearing stories from volunteers serving as “books” who share their stories, which will run on May 15 in collaboration with the Division of Inclusion, Equity and Community (IEC).
April 8 was National Library Workers Day, and Gould Library staff had an appreciation event where students were encouraged to share their favorite moments with library staff on the whiteboard at the entrance of the library. Staff from the Northfield Public Library also had an information table, encouraging students to sign up for library cards and to learn about the downtown location.
“I thought the table to help students get library cards for the Northfield library was especially helpful,” said Jess Knachel ’27, a student employee for the interlibrary loan service at Gould Library. “The local library is a great place for Carleton students to study and engage with the community.”
There was a quill-writing workshop on Wednesday, April 9, for National Library Outreach Day. Shirk said that library outreach programs are an important part of showcasing the services that the library provides and “[encourage] people to have fun and learn new skills.”
Take Action for Libraries Day was on Thursday, April 10, and Gould Library hosted a zine-making workshop. Shirk called zines “the ultimate field-leveler of publishing,” describing how they are an opportunity for lesser-known authors and artists to independently express their ideas.
National Library Week wrapped up with a library celebration in the Gould lobby on Friday, April 11, with candy, stickers and bookmarks.
Library employees emphasized the importance of spreading awareness and increasing access during National Library Week. “We want to make access equitable and then also show people how to access,” Shirk said. “We want to have people empower themselves to indulge their curiosity and then go out there and make an impact. It’s thrilling to walk into a library and see all of this knowledge that is just free for people to access.”
Given the current political climate, the ALA and library workers stressed the importance of the public library as an equalizer when it comes to needed resources. “Libraries are some of the most important places in our community, especially right now,” Villa said. “It’s because they are equally accessible to all people. I’ve benefited from library services myself, and I can really see it in the community.”
Though National Library Week has come to an end, local library employees hope that people continue to utilize their services and offer support. Knachel said, “The best way for people to support their local library is simply to use its resources and attend its events.”
