From April 19-25, we celebrate National Library Week, an annual event sponsored by the American Library Association. This week highlights the vital role libraries play in strengthening our communities, transforming lives, and ensuring everyone has access to information and technology. This year’s theme is "Find Your Joy," an open invitation for people of all backgrounds to explore libraries and discover what sparks curiosity and delight. The ALA has shared several suggestions to help you find that spark, and the UVA Library is the perfect place to start.
- Stop by your library and bring someone with you. Did you know the UVA Library is open to everyone? Our locations serve not just the UVA community but the broader scholarly community, the local community, and the general public.
- Get a library card. If you’re a University of Virginia affiliate, your UVA ID is your library card. But if you’re not, you can still use our collections — check out our services for community patrons and register for a community borrower account!
- Explore something new. The Library is more than just a place to study, it’s a place for exploration, innovation, and community. Explore materials and spaces of all types (including some that are new), utilize equipment and tech, take in an exhibition, or attend a workshop, lecture, or other event. Of course, if study spaces are what sparks joy in you, we have plenty of those as well.
Another suggestion? If you find joy in the Library, consider joining our celebration with a National Library Week gift. To make your contribution go further, we’re matching all gifts made during this week 1:1, up to $12,500. And as a token of our appreciation, we’ll send you a custom bookmark for your donation.
To donate, visit our giving form and check out a short video centering student voices. You’ll learn how the library supports research and creativity and acts as both intellectual infrastructure and a place for exploration and belonging.