Make a date with your library this Library Lovers’ Day

Forget Valentine’s Day, February 14 is all about libraries!

Library Lovers’ Day, also held on February 14 each year, celebrates all the work that libraries do for the community, and is especially important following the unsettling year that was 2020.

“Last year was a tough year, and we’re looking forward to being able to really engage with our community now that we’re slowly returning to normal. Part of the value of libraries is in the way we connect with our communities, so we’re inviting everyone to discover, or re-discover, what they missed about their local library during lockdown and the past few months of uncertainty”, says Goldfields Libraries CEO Mark Hands.

“Library Lovers’ Day falls on a Sunday this year, the one day our libraries are closed, so to make up for that, we’ll be celebrating and sharing our love for libraries for an entire week!”

There are a number of ways you can get involved in Library Lovers’ Day celebrations.

Highly successful local author, and friend of the library, Nicole-Hurley Moore will be stopping by to chat about rural fiction and the allure of small-town romances. Nicole will visit Boort and Inglewood to chat about her latest novel, The McCalister Legacy, and explore why rural romance novels are so popular and resonate with so many.

Castlemaine Library will be joining in the fun by hosting a ‘Meet Me at the Library’ podcast listening party. Listen to some of the amazing, surprising, and funny stories of how public libraries bring us together and meet some of the characters featured. Host and producer Anne-Marie Middlemast will also be there to share her process of creating the extraordinary series.

And wrapping up Library Lovers’ Week will be the official opening of the new Kangaroo Flat Library. With celebrations being postponed due to the pandemic, the team at Kangaroo Flat are excited to be able to finally celebrate with the community. Come along for face painting, live music, craft activities, library tours and the unveiling of a bespoke Indigenous artwork, created by local Dja Dja Wurrung artist Daikota Nelson.

If reading is more your thing, all libraries across the region will have impressive Library Lovers’ Day displays for the week, with love and romance-themed titles available for loan.

“There will also be plenty of opportunities at each library to share your love for these incredible spaces. Whether you use your local library in a physical sense by visiting and borrowing books, or make the most of the online services through our eLibrary, make sure to let us know!” says Mr Hands

Library Lovers’ Day events and displays will be happening from February 15 to 20. All events are free, but bookings are essential. More information at www.ncgrl.vic.gov.au/librarylovers