National Library Week is scheduled April 13-19 across America with the theme, “Lives change @ your library,” and the Friends of the Lincoln County Library organization has planned activities throughout the special week.

A Saturday, April 12, event will kick off the week. Author Neil White will be on hand at Ole Towne Church for a 6 p.m. program, followed by a reception and book signing. Tickets for the Saturday event are $20. (Please see the related story on this page for more information.)

An essay contest will be held for local home school students, who are being asked to write about their experiences at the library. Friends of the Library President Pam Womack said winning essays will be published in The Daily Leader. Home school students should drop their essays by the library or email them to the library at bteasley@llf.bib.ms.us. The deadline for submissions is Monday, April 14.

The Friends also are encouraging third graders in the local public and private schools to get library cards during Library Week. The third grade classroom that has the largest percentage of students getting library cards by April 19 will win a pizza party.

Womack encouraged the third graders – and anyone who does not currently have a library card – to come sign up for one. “A library card is your ticket to the world,” she said.

Also during Library Week, the Friends are holding a Library Staff Appreciation Day on Tuesday, April 15. “Come by Tuesday and thank a librarian,” Womack urged.

In addition, during Library Week, the Friends will be shooting short movies with local residents and posting them on YouTube.

Finally, the Friends are asking each member of the community to write a paragraph or two on “a memory of how your life changed at the library.” Memories will be posted in the library and published in The Daily Leader. “We thank people in advance for sharing their stories,” Womack said.

Memories should be emailed to librarystories@yahoo.com. Please include name, address and a contact phone number for verification or for more information if needed. Phone numbers will not be published. The deadline for submitting memories is 5 p.m. Thursday, April 9, in order for them to be included in the paper during Library Week.

Womack encouraged the public to support the special events and activities. “We hope this will bring our community together around something we all share.

“We really believe that good books inspire dreams and expand your horizons,” she added.

In keeping with that sentiment, Womack also asked the public to donate books, particularly gently used recent popular hardbacks and paperbacks, to the Friends of the Library for the organization’s fundraiser book sales. “If you’ve read it, pass it along and help the library,” she said.

Funds raised by Friends of the Library go to help the library with a variety of projects and programs.