Newton, NC – Each April, the Catawba County Library celebrates National Library Week, joining a nationwide effort to educate people about the ways that libraries transform their communities through services, programs, and expertise.

This year – which honors the 60th anniversary of National Library Week – the observation takes place April 8-14, and the theme is ‘Libraries Lead.’ While it’s accepted that libraries lead the way in education and community development – ensuring that residents have access to resources and materials – it’s not as well-known that libraries also lead as advocates and encouragers.

The Catawba County Library partners with many, many organizations that are seeking to promote a variety of interests: early childhood education, workforce development, the arts, history and genealogy, higher education, technology, government, health care, agriculture, and diversity initiatives. As part of its efforts to enhance quality of life and make opportunities available to all residents, the library joins forces with these groups to help facilitate collective goals.

The library also works on a more intimate scale, reaching out to help individuals with their personal needs, whether that’s printing a document, finding a great book, downloading digital media, or something else entirely. The library staff help people discover tools and resources they may not be aware of, and with the library’s growing role in community life, that’s a task that’s more encompassing – but ultimately more rewarding – than it’s ever been. Any time the library can nudge someone to grow in knowledge or confidence, it has helped create a better day and build a better society.

In conjunction with National Library Week, the Catawba County Library System is conducting its annual customer survey from April 9 through May 5. The results and comments are used to ensure that the library continues to provide the most responsive service to the community. To fill out a survey, pick up a paper copy at any of the library’s seven locations or access the online version at www.catawbacountync.gov/library. Respondents will automatically be entered into a drawing to receive a library Fast Pass or two movie tickets to an AMC movie theater.

Locally, the Catawba County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution recognizing National Library Week at its April 2 meeting. Governor Roy Cooper has also issued a proclamation naming April 2018 as Library Appreciation Month.

For more information about library activities, please contact the Catawba County Library at 828.465.8664, at [email protected], or via Facebook. For the latest in library news, visit www.catawbacountync.gov/library, or stop by your local branch.

Photo: Assistant Library Director Siobhan Loendorf (left) accepts the proclamation from County Commissioner Kitty Barnes.