National Library Week activities — LA County

LA County Library is marking National Library Week with six days of free programs across its branches, running April 20 through April 25. (lacountylibrary.org) The county library system said the lineup includes storytimes, book discussions, craft workshops, mindfulness sessions and teen programs for children, teens and adults. The announcement says activities are scheduled at locations across Los Angeles County and are built around the 2026 theme, “Find Your Joy.” (lacountylibrary.org) Featured events listed by the library include a One Book, One Coast discussion of *They Called Us Enemy* on Tuesday, April 21, a virtual author talk with Miranda Cowley Heller on Wednesday, April 22, and a family program, “Ms. Bits N Bobs Visits the Land of Imagination,” on Saturday, April 25. The same schedule also includes “Tea for the Soul” on Friday, April 24, and “Teen Fridays” later that afternoon. (lacountylibrary.org) LA County Library’s National Library Week page says the observance itself runs April 19 to April 25, 2026, and has been sponsored by the American Library Association since 1958. The county’s local programming starts a day later, on Monday, April 20. (lacountylibrary.org; ala.org) The American Library Association says this year’s national message is to “discover your library joy,” part of a campaign that encourages people to visit libraries, sign up for cards and try a program or class. LA County Library is using the same framing to promote branch events and everyday services, including borrowing materials, free Wi‑Fi and quiet reading space. (ala.org; lacountylibrary.org) The county library system is also tying the week to broader spring programming. Its April events roundup says *They Called Us Enemy* is available on Libby with unlimited downloads and no waits or holds starting April 1 as part of the One Book, One Coast reading campaign. (lacountylibrary.org) On the library’s event page, individual branch programs range from early-learning art activities for ages 3 to 5 at Charter Oak Library to “Planting Joy” for ages 6 to 12 at Lomita Library. Other listings include a recycled-book “Book Hedgehogs” craft for teens ages 12 to 17. (lacountylibrary.org; visit.lacountylibrary.org; visit.lacountylibrary.org) County Librarian and Director Dr. Skye Patrick said in the announcement that the week is meant to highlight how residents use libraries to find books, learn skills, attend programs and connect with other people. For Los Angeles County residents, the immediate deadline is Saturday, April 25, when this year’s National Library Week programming wraps up. (lacountylibrary.org)