Altadena: National Library Week 2021

Press release from the Altadena Public Library:

March 29, 2021

From April 4 – 10, 2021, the Altadena Libraries join libraries across the country in celebrating National Library Week, an annual observance honoring libraries and their important role in communities. Amidst celebrations of this important observance, the Altadena Library District is pleased to announce the phased reopening of its buildings after a brief closure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Details of the new in-person hours and services can be found at www.altadenalibrary.org/reopening.

“COVID-19 has given our staff, volunteers, and community the crucial opportunity to expand our vision of library service,” says District Director Nikki Winslow. “While we are pleased to reopen our doors at a limited capacity, we also are thrilled to implement new ways of connecting our community with local resources over the coming years and to turn the lessons we learned about our team’s innovation and creativity during COVID-19 into sustainable, newly imagined ways of providing library services beyond our buildings’ walls.”

Library staff celebrates Read Local, Shop Local registration with staff at Café de Leche on Lake Avenue

National Library Week will mark the launch of Read Local, Shop Local, a program that provides exclusive offers and discounts to customers that present their Altadena Library cards at checkout at participating area businesses, which currently include A Noise Within Theatre, Altadena Ale House, Café de Leche, El Patron, Hoopla! An Emporium of Good Things, Little Red Hen Café, Photography by Walt, and Tacos Casa. Shoppers can explore a full list of discounts at www.altadenalibrary.org/shoplocal.

Throughout National Library Week, the Altadena Library District’s social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @AltadenaLibrary) will also highlight the important work its staff has been doing across Altadena throughout the pandemic to connect with organizations across a variety of fields through intentional outreach and relationship building, bolstering its ability to connect its community with the many resources that help Altadena thrive.

“The future of the modern library is dependent on its human connections in the community,” says Assistant Director Viktor Sjöberg. “Books go in and out of print, technology evolves, and we all continue to access information in new ways… The one constant in our work in libraries is our connection to community, and we are in commitment to learning in conversation with our community and developing innovative ways for our libraries to meet their ever-evolving needs.”

There is no better way to celebrate National Library Week than signing up for a library card. Beyond books, other traditional library materials, and now local discounts, the benefits of having an Altadena Library card now include access to laptops, hotspots, telescopes, sewing machines, and virtual reality equipment of the District’s Library of Things and more (see our top 10 favorite benefits at www.altadenalibrary.org/10benefits)! To sign up for your very own Altadena Library card, sign up online at https://tinyurl.com/ALDcardsignup or visit the Altadena Main Library or Bob Lucas Memorial Library in person.

This press release was produced by the Altadena Public Library. The views expressed are the author's own.