Today marks the beginning of National Library Week, a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. This year’s theme is Libraries Transform, which asks us all to think about the evolving role of libraries, as well as our own unique experiences with our libraries.

Here are some ways Temple University Libraries are celebrating:

• Stop by our table near the leisure reading section in Paley Library for more information about library resources and services, as well as some fun stress-relief activities, giveaways, and candy. The table will be staffed on Tuesday, April 12 and Thursday, April 14 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM.
• Check out our trivia questions about library facts and figures on Twitter and give us your best guesses!
• Our Question of the Week board on the first floor of Paley Library asks how the Libraries have transformed YOU—what will you say?

In honor of National Library Week, we also asked what books or library resources Temple University Libraries’ staff members love. Here are some of their favorites—Enjoy!

“My favorite library resource is our amazing Media Services collection.” –Kathy Lehman, Supervisor, Access Services

“Perhaps my favorite book is Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude. I used to re-read it every year or so, just to re-enter the magical-realist world of the Buendia family and the town of Macondo.” –Gary Kramer, Publicity Manager, Temple University Press

“One from my childhood comes to mind, and has stayed there through many decades: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This was the only book my mother saved from her childhood, and it still sits safely on my bookshelf behind glass doors and surrounded by as many versions as I have been able to buy!” –Sandi Thompson, Head, Ambler Campus Library

“Naxos Music Library is a music streaming service, mostly classical music. I’ve used it since I was in undergrad, and there are recordings of lots of my favorite hard-to-find pieces in there. Another is Underground and Independent Comics, Comix, and Graphic Novels. It has both primary-source content (digitized comic book issues), and scholarly articles and interviews about them. Plus, it lets you search by character and genre, which is pretty neat.” –Anastasia Chiu, Resident Librarian

“I suggest two films by Bob Fosse—Cabaret and All That Jazz. Media Services holds these films in their collections, as they are absolute classics of both cinema and performance. ” –Nicole Restaino, Manager for Library Communications and Public Programming

“Some of my favorite books are The Bell Jar, The Secret Garden, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.” –Fobazi Ettarh, Resident Librarian