April 8-14: 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 local libraries, librarians and volunteers and to promote literacy in our community.

History: From Wake up and Read to Libraries Lead
National Library Week 2018 marks the 60th anniversary of the first event, sponsored in 1958. In the mid-1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less on books and more on radios, televisions and musical instruments. Sound familiar? Concerned that Americans were reading less, the ALA and the American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit citizen's committee to 

• encourage "people to read in their increasing leisure time" 
• improve "incomes and health"
• develop a "strong and happy family life" 

In 1957, the committee developed a plan for National Library Week based on the idea that once people were motivated to read, they would support and use libraries. With the cooperation of ALA and with help from the Advertising Council, the first National Library Week was observed in 1958 with the theme "Wake Up and Read!" This 2018 theme is "Libraries Lead."

April 15-21: Volunteers
Volunteering has been around even longer than libraries and National Library Week. Camp Verde Community Library was started by volunteers and continues to thrive due to volunteerism today. Library volunteers don't just sit around and read books at the front desk. Our team of volunteers is trained to help with many skilled and technical tasks that are critical to operations at the library. Library volunteers learn to navigate the library computer system to help people find books and place holds. They issue library cards and handle fines, check material in and out, answer questions and give directions. Volunteers put books, music, DVDs, etc. back on the shelf where they belong so we can find them again. Some volunteers stock and run the Book Nook, raise funds, run the Friends of the Library, and, most of all, smile and greet everyone who walks through the doors.

Volunteers are a key component to the library's success and we hope that we, in turn, can provide a pathway to people seeking to meet their personal goals in volunteering. People volunteer for many different reasons. Some are interested in learning new job skills. Some say they just love libraries, books and reading. Others want to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Some want to keep their minds sharp and bodies active. Some feel the desire to give back to others as they were given to in the past. Some want to get out of the house and interact with real people on a regular basis. Others just want to have fun. And, some are even convinced to try volunteering by family members who are sure they need something meaningful to do with their time.

Whatever reasons lie behind the act of volunteering it is a gift of time, knowledge, energy and empathy that we do not take for granted. We appreciate each and every volunteer for more than the time they give and money they save us. We like them for themselves and the unique diversity they bring to our library team.

You are invited to stop by the library during open hours April 16-21 to say, "thank you, we appreciate what you do," to a volunteer during Volunteer Appreciation Week. While there, visitors are encouraged to ask a volunteer what they like most about volunteering at the library or why they started volunteering in the first place.