National Library Week — Programs Apr 20–25
- Series of free programs and activities for kids, teens and adults running April 20–25. - Events include storytimes, workshops and community activities at county library branches. - See full schedule and locations at lacountylibrary.org.
LA County Library is marking National Library Week with free programs across its branches through Saturday, April 25, 2026. (lacountylibrary.org) The county library system said the week’s events run April 20–25 and are built around the 2026 theme, “Find Your Joy.” National Library Week itself runs April 19–25 this year and has been observed each April since 1958, according to the library’s National Library Week page. (lacountylibrary.org 1) (lacountylibrary.org 2) LA County Library’s lineup spans children, teens, adults, and older adults, with storytimes, crafts, writing sessions, mindfulness workshops, and book discussions listed on its events calendar. Monday’s schedule alone included toddler storytimes at Hollydale and Topanga, a writing series at La Crescenta, and an art class for adults with developmental differences at East Rancho Dominguez. (lacountylibrary.org) The system is using the week to spotlight how public libraries now function as more than book-lending sites. Its April programming page points readers to Homework Centers at 30 locations, free Wi-Fi, digital collections, and research tools alongside branch events. (lacountylibrary.org 1) (lacountylibrary.org 2) That broader role is built into this year’s campaign. LA County Library said the week is meant to show how branches bring people together through learning, creativity, self-expression, and community connection. (lacountylibrary.org) Several featured events tie the week to larger countywide reading and arts efforts. The library highlighted an April 21 discussion of George Takei’s graphic memoir *They Called Us Enemy* as part of One Book, One Coast, which the library describes as “the largest book club on the West Coast.” (lacountylibrary.org) (lacountylibrary.org) Other featured programs include a virtual April 22 author talk with Miranda Cowley Heller, a Japanese American watercolor workshop the same evening, a pressed-flower art program on April 23, a “Tea for the Soul” mindfulness session on April 24, and a family storytelling event on April 25. (lacountylibrary.org) Branch-level events show how that theme is being translated into specific age-based activities. Charter Oak scheduled an arts-and-crafts program for children ages 3 to 5 on April 21, while Lomita hosted “Planting Joy” for ages 6 to 12 on April 22, asking children to paint a flower pot and plant seeds. (lacountylibrary.org) (lacountylibrary.org) Teen programming is part of the mix too. LA County Library said its April 24 “Teen Fridays” session would combine gaming, music, art, fashion, and writing with snacks, and another branch event on April 23 invited ages 12 to 17 to make “Book Hedgehogs” from recycled books. (lacountylibrary.org) (lacountylibrary.org) County Librarian and Director Dr. Skye Patrick said the week celebrates “the joy libraries bring to our communities every day.” With Saturday’s final events approaching, the full branch-by-branch schedule remains posted on the library’s National Library Week and events pages. (lacountylibrary.org) (lacountylibrary.org)
