National Library Week is a time to celebrate our libraries, library workers’ contributions and promote library use and support. The theme for National Library Week 2021, April 4-10, is “Welcome to Your Library.” 

Cobb libraries are community anchors. Your public libraries are playing an essential role in supporting community health, resilience and stability.

During the pandemic, the Cobb County library staff has adapted resources and services to meet library users’ needs of lifelong learning, family engagement, economic and workforce development, and much more. This effort includes virtual library programs by staff members and special guests, and other online activities. The library’s curbside services provide library cardholders grab-and-go pickup of library materials.

A highlight of NLW 2021 is National Library Workers Day celebrated on Tuesday, April 6. Cobb library workers deliver services for improving quality of life in our community. The library’s youth services team develops creative programs, including presenting virtual storytime and building pick-up craft kits on a range of themes. Digital resources offered through the Library PASS partnership of the public library with the Cobb County and Marietta City school districts provides critical resources for students.

The Cobb library staff has joined with public servant colleagues and community organizations to offer food pantries and food collection drives for closing the food insecurity gap and promoted resources for wellness, personal financial security and community engagement.

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and observed in libraries across the country each April. All types of libraries - school, public, academic and special - participate.

Explore Cobb County Public Library at cobbcounty.org/library. Upcoming events during NLW 2021 include:

Monday – Thursday: The Hattie Gaines Wilson Youth Services Department of the Switzer Library has partnered with Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park for Spring Break Camp-In! Each day, April 5-8, the library and the park will premiere new videos beginning at noon. Park rangers will teach us about how Civil War soldiers set up camp and some of the things they did around their campsites. The library staff will talk about ways you can camp inside or outside and fun things you can do around your campsite. @KMNBP

Tuesday, 10 am: Pop Up in the Park with Cobb Library Bookmobile at East Cobb Park. A social distanced storytime in the park, weather permitting. @cobbbookmobile

Wednesday, 11 am – 1 pm: Drive-Thru Food Pantry at South Cobb Regional Library in collaboration with Atlanta Community Food Bank. SCRL, 805 Clay Road, Mableton. 678-398-5828.

Wednesday, 2 pm: Young Adult Resume and Interview Workshop, a virtual program offered by Cobb County Public Library and Goodwill of North Georgia. Ages 16-24. Registration here. RELATED: Young Adult Drive-Thru Job Fair in the Switzer Library parking lot in downtown Marietta on Wednesday, April 14, 10 am – 1 pm. Please bring your resume to share with potential employers. 770-528-2522.

Saturdays @ the library: Saturday hours return April 10 for Cobb County Public Library locations as a first step in renewing six days a week library hours throughout the county. The first phase of this round of re-openings will add Saturday in-person hours, 10 am to 5 pm, for seven libraries – East Cobb, Mountain View, North Cobb, Sewell Mill, South Cobb, Vinings and West Cobb. For more information on library hours throughout Cobb, visit cobbcounty.org/library.