City Council Meeting Date: April 4, 2017
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Teresa Jensen
Title
Proclamation Declaring National Library Week, April 9-15 in Northfield.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council is being asked to approve the attached resolution Declaring April 9-15 as National Library Week in Northfield.
Summary Report:
The Library Board is requesting the City Council declare April 9-15 as National Library Week in Northfield in recognition of the importance of libraries in the life of our community. 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. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support.
§ In Northfield we especially want to recognize the contributions of the school media centers and the college libraries as well as the public library.
§ The theme for this year’s library week is “Libraries Transform.”
§ Tuesday, April 11 is National Library Workers Day - time to celebrate those who make our libraries work so well.
§ Wednesday, April 12 is National Bookmobile Day; a day to recognize the contributions of our nation’s bookmobiles and the dedicated professionals who make quality bookmobile outreach possible in their communities.
§ Over the years, Northfield has celebrated this week with a variety of activities including author visits, displays, coffee/refreshments and contests. In 2017 those activities will include:
National Library Week events:
• Sunday, April 9 will feature Chamber music from St. Olaf student violinists
• Monday, April 10 members of the Human Rights Commission will talk about the HRC and human rights in Northfield.
• Thursday, April 13 Northfield’s travel and water photographer Zach Stadler will discuss his travels and photography from around the world.
• Northfield elementary school students are participating in National Library week, writing or drawing responses to “What do you like about your library? Or “What do you do when you go to the library?” Writings and drawings will be displayed in the atrium during the week.
• Free coffee and treats every morning in the library atrium during the week.
The past year has been a tremendously positive and eventful year for the library. In May we will mark the 1 year anniversary of our grand re-opening of our library renovation; our increased use by library patrons reflects the public satisfaction with their new/ old library. We have begun new programs such as the Northfield Poet Laureate, outreach services in area senior centers, the upcoming BookBike which will be on the road in May, and our successful fundraising for a new bookmobile, which will be completed later this year. Support from the City, our patrons, the library Friends and from funding and philanthropic organizations such as the Ames Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation, Northfield Rotary and the United Way have been critical to the success of the library. Please join us in celebrating an important year for the library, and in the anticipation of another great year in 2017.
Alternative Options:
None.
Financial Impacts:
Not applicable.
Tentative Timelines:
Events summarized in the Summary Report section of this memo.