“Wake Up and Read” to “Libraries Lead” - National Library Week

Why do libraries celebrate National Library Week? What is the history of it?

If you have asked those questions before, consider reading more regarding the 60-year history of National Library Week.

While it’s never been particularly difficult to lament the decline of reading in American society, the 1950s were a time when literary pessimists found plenty to be concerned about. A Gallup poll in 1955 found that almost two-thirds of adults had not read any book apart from the Bible in the previous year. A 1957 survey found that only 17% of Americans were currently reading a book. And spending on books was decreasing, as more of the country’s entertainment dollars went to televisions, radios, and even musical instruments ...

To Read more of the history, visit the American Libraries Magazine Article.

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