by Madison Schneider
Heartland Library Cooperative invites you to celebrate National Library week with us, from April 3rd-April 9th, 2022. This nationwide celebration for the book communities that we form all over America helps tighten the bonds we as a community create with the services our Libraries provide for our patrons.
National Library week began in the 1950s, when sales revealed that books were taking a back seat to radio, television, and musical instruments as everyday entertainment. Seeing the decline of bookworms as a harmful negative to our country’s literacy, the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Book Publishers created a non-profit citizens organization, the National Book Committee, in 1954 to “encourage people to read [as a means of] improving incomes and health and developing a strong and happy family life”.
In 1957 “National Library Week” was born, created with the hope that once people were motivated to read again, they’d use and show support for their local libraries. The first National Library Week celebration was observed in 1958 and again 1959. After the two successful events it was voted to be an annual celebration, and has been tightening our community bonds, and love of reading ever since!
The Okeechobee County Public Library has celebrated this event every year and this year is no exception with a great lineup of events! We’ll begin the celebrations with a concert on Saturday, April 2nd, followed by a week of mystery games, challenges and raffles, a Spring Drive Thru event on Saturday, April 9th, and another week of scavenger hunts and raffles. To end the celebrations our very own Board of County Commissioners will be honoring our Library and showing their support with a county proclamation that will be part of the BOCC meeting on Thursday, April 14th!
Below you’ll find a list and additional details of the programs/events we have coming up to celebrate with our community. All programs are free and we invite everyone to celebrate National Library Week with us!
Saturday, April 2nd, 2:00 p.m.: SWING! Music of the Roaring 20’s Concert
A FREE concert celebrating the music of the Roaring 20s, featuring some of the greatest hits of the era including It Had To Be You, Ain’t We Got Fun, Someone To Watch Over Me, Makin’ Whoopee, and more!!
Tuesday, April 5th – Saturday April 9th: Library Mystery Game and Raffle!
Can you solve the clues to open the treasure box and win prizes? Try out this family-friendly escape room style mystery! BONUS: Every participant will be entered to win a Spring Raffle for more prizes!
Tuesday, April 5th – Saturday, April 9th: I-Spy Challenge and Raffle!
I-Spy with my little eye a challenge at the Library! Find all of the hidden items in the Spring Display and get a small prize! And be entered for your chance to win even more prizes!
Saturday, April 9th, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.: Spring Drive-Thru Event
Drive through the Okeechobee Library’s parking lot to receive FREE craft activities, candy, books, giveaways and more!
Tuesday, April 12th – Friday, April 15th: Scavenger Hunt and Raffle!
Can you find all of the hidden chicks at the Library! Follow along and complete the scavenger hunt to receive a small prize and be entered into our Spring Basket Raffle!
Thursday, April 14th, 9:00 a.m.: BOCC Proclamation
The Okeechobee Board of County Commissioners will be honoring the Library with a proclamation at the BOCC Meeting. We thank the BOCC and County for all of their support of our organization.
We’d also like to personally thank all of our community members, groups, and partners that make it possible for us to give back as much as we can! A library would be nothing without its members!
With that said, we hope that as we continue to provide learning and entertainment outlets for our community, we’ll continue to be greeted by new faces each and every day! A patron’s role in the community is a crucial part of maintaining their library system. We wouldn’t be able to do this without you, so if you stop by we look forward to helping you however we can to make you walk out of here with a smile on your face and a fond memory in your heart.
Happy National Library Week everyone!!!
A special thanks to the following groups for their partnership for our National Library Week Events:
The Friends of the Okeechobee Library
Healthy Start Coalition of Okeechobee County
Rotary Club of Okeechobee
Early Learning Coalition of Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee Counties