The theme of this year's National Library Week (April 19-25) is “Find Your Joy,” which highlights the valuable role libraries and library professionals play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.
To help us celebrate library joy, we asked our community to tell us how they find joy at the library, and we received over 50 responses! Here are just some of the many different ways people are finding joy at Northbrook Public Library. And your joy brings us joy. We're so happy to be a place "where community happens."
"Who, What, When, Where, Why” is the common saying for what a library provides and ‘Joy’ in finding new authors, books, films and attending events. But the best part of the library is the staff who, when asked, will answer questions and suggest books. Otherwise, they say, ‘hello’, and leave one to wander the shelves for the next read."
"The library has done a great job of making its services accessible to everyone. My 98 year old mother listens to audiobooks on the Libby App every day, and I love to use the library app to sign out books that so I can dash in and grab them off the holds shelf. When I do have time to browse for something new, everyone on the staff is super friendly and welcoming. We're lucky to have a spectacular library at the heart of our community!"
"When I find that edition of the white pages that we don't have and I get to look inside and find out when Domino's Pizza opened in the 1980s."
"The library is a gem, bringing us so much joy—constantly surprising us with new features and benefits—many of them free, from 3D printing to live music performances. Every visit feels like a chance to learn something new or experience something special, whether it’s a new movie in the theater or a pianist filling the space with music. It’s a place that brings our whole family together, offering something meaningful for everyone from our one-year-old to our ten-year-old—and even us as parents. We feel so proud to be part of a community that invests in such an inclusive and inspiring resource."
"My family LOVES reading, so a trip to the library is one of our favorite things. I love discovering a new series for my daughter thanks to the staff’s great recommendations, and my son is happiest parked in the animal books aisle or in front of the Star Wars shelves. I’m thrilled when I luck out finding a Lucky Day book downstairs or snag a great find for $0.25 at the Friends of the Library shop. We leave with overflowing canvas bags of books we can’t wait to read. Even when we can’t make it in person, Hoopla and Libby keep the good books coming. Thank you for bringing us so much joy! You’re the best! ❤️ 📚"
"I am so grateful to live in a town with an incredible library. Watching my kids develop a love of reading and beg to go to the library as a reward or activity is so validating as a parent. When I asked them to go round up library books to return yesterday, my husband joked that the table might break under the weight - and that didn’t even include all the audiobooks we listen to on Hoopla during our commutes. I regularly find my two kids curled up reading by themselves, to each other, or to an audience of stuffies and it fills my heart every time. But the Northbrook library is about so much more than books! The Collaboratory has been my happy place for “me time” for the last 4 years and a creative outlet."
"The library either has, or is willing to purchase, any book I want. The high-quality concerts, covering all musical genres, are amazing. I feel fortunate every time I drive by the library. It makes me smile every time I drive by the library."
My family also adores the Library of Things — this summer, we’re looking forward to checking out the telescope and metal detector as new things to do and learn together. We also love trying new board games!"
"Northbrook Public Library has been my North Star in this community since moving here in 2011. Whether as a place to bring my kids to explore and learn when they were young, to somewhere they now go to study, and somewhere I always leave with an armful of books, it is a gift to us all. The skills, creativity, and thoughtfulness of the library staff are and have always been been clear to me. All I can say is that going to Northbrook Public Library feels like going home; what a special and rare thing to be able to say that. My only hope is that the staff, leadership, and Board know the impact they make. Thank you."
"Northbrook Public Library is a wonderful beacon and fixture of the town. It's warm, welcoming, safe, clean, quiet, relaxing, and abundant with resources and programs. Love the selection of e-books available on the Libby app, and the automatic renewal services. Also really enjoy the summer and winter programs, and the event offerings like jazz concerts and movie showings."
