National Library Week 2026: Find Your Joy
Award-winning librarian, author, and new host of the children’s program “Reading Rainbow,” Mychal Threets, will serve as Honorary Chair of National Library Week.
“Find Your Joy,” is an invitation for people of all backgrounds to explore and discover what sparks joy in them at the library. The theme amplifies a message that is ever-present in Threets’ recurring viral videos about the innumerable ways people can find joy in the library, and in his debut picture book, I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy, published on February 3, 2026.
Here’s what Mychal says about finding your joy during National Library Week:
“Celebrating libraries, thanking library workers, visiting libraries is how I find my joy. There are so many library kids and library grown-ups who have yet to fully embrace their library joy, and I am so excited for them! When they enter the world of libraries and stories, I am confident they will find not only their library joy but their courage to believe in their own story and maybe even share it with others.” —Mychal Threets
Celebrate stories, learning, and community—join us for National Library Week activities at the library!
National Library Week Activities!
This year, we have two ways you can participate in National Library Week!
Join our Bookmark Contest for Kids, Teens, and Adults. Pick up submission sheets at any department desk or the Carnegie-Farian Room. This year’s theme is “Find Your Joy.” Whether you’re a budding young illustrator or a seasoned adult artist, we want to see your original designs. The winning bookmarks will be printed and distributed at the library for the entire community to enjoy!
Submit a scanned copy (or drop off in-person) of your designs to programs@nyacklibrary.org with the subject: NLW: Bookmark Contest by April 16th.
In Honor of National Library Week, Nyack and Valley Cottage Libraries have selected 12 book covers total (6 from each library) for a book covers tournament for all of you to participate!
April 19th – April 25th
The goal is to judge the book cover by its appearance.
Here is how it works:
6 books (3 pairs from each library) will face off for Round 1.
Voting begins with:
Round 1: Sunday, April 19 to Monday, April 20.
Round 2: Tuesday, April 21 to Wednesday, April 22.
Round 3: Thursday, April 23 – 2 books from each library will face off on for the semifinals.
Then the semifinal books from Nyack and Valley Cottage Libraries will face off for the finals from Friday, April 24 to Saturday, April 25.
Results on Monday, April 27!
Vote in-person at Nyack Library and/or Valley Cottage Library. Vote in the Library at the Bridge entrance, on our socials, or all three!
May the best cover win!
