(Harrisonburg, Virginia) –This week, the JMU Libraries joins libraries in schools, campuses and communities nationwide in celebrating National Library Week, a time to highlight the changing role of libraries, librarians and library workers.
Libraries today are more than warehouses for books. Instead, libraries and librarians are change agents within their communities – transforming lives through innovative educational resources and forward-thinking programming. Libraries are doing their part to close the digital divide and level the playing field by providing free access to information and technologies that many in their communities would be hard pressed to find elsewhere. Libraries help to ensure the American dream and promote democracy by providing service to all regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, age, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or socio-economic status.
Librarians work with elected officials, small business owners, students and the public at large to discover and meet the needs of their communities. Whether through offering e-books and technology classes, materials for English-language learners, programs for job seekers or offering a safe haven in times of crisis, librarians listen to the community they serve, and they respond.
JMU Libraries serves James Madison University by providing inviting study spaces, academic research support, and a hub for cultural exchange within the JMU community.
“The library has always been a place of unlimited possibilities,” said Kristen Shuyler, Assistant Director for Library Services .“Whatever your interest or need, the library and the library staff are here to provide you the resources you need to accomplish your goals and dreams.”
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.