Find Your Joy - Celebrating National Library Week, April 19-25, 2026
Each April, National Library Week invites communities to recognize how libraries inspire learning, creativity, and connection. This year’s theme – Find Your Joy – encourages people to explore what sparks joy for them at the library. This annual celebration is a great opportunity to highlight the year-round impact library spaces, services, and people have on students, faculty, and staff.
At CMU, the University Libraries are part of the academic infrastructure. Although we often work quietly in the background, we support learning and research activities every day. Library employees help transform lives and strengthen our community. This transformation is closely tied to the discovery of ideas, research pathways, and personal passions. Students and faculty can access thousands of journals, physical and online collections, streaming media, and research guides and tools essential for coursework and scholarly activity. Our librarians support learners individually via email, chat, or in person, and provide information literacy sessions integrated into courses. Whether students are writing a research paper or faculty are writing their research results, the library's resources are a foundation for high-quality academic work. Many students and faculty experience joy while pursuing academic interests. CMU Libraries connects you with the tools and expertise that make these moments possible.
When most people think about libraries, they think about books. However, today’s academic libraries offer much more than books. At the Park Library, joy often shows up in unexpected corners:
- Board games, puzzles, and de‑stress activities that help students recharge between classes
- Collaborative study spaces, ideal for group projects or focused teamwork
- Creative spaces, such as the Adobe Lounge
- The Clarke Historical Library’s exhibits, which connect students to Michigan’s rich cultural and historical heritage
- Art exhibits and displays which delight and surprise viewers throughout the building
- Extended hours and 24‑hour study spaces, giving learners the time and environment they need to do their best work
These resources enable students to engage with local culture and history, manage stress, and connect socially. Whether students are working on course assignments or personal projects, or attending programs, the library spaces and resources support their learning beyond the classroom walls.
National Library Week is also a time to recognize the people who make these resources accessible and meaningful. CMU’s librarians come from a variety of academic backgrounds spanning Biology, Chemistry, English, Arts, Business, Education, and more, allowing them to support a range of learning and research needs. They help students navigate assignments, evaluate sources, learn new tools, and build confidence in their academic abilities. Library employees also collaborate with academic departments, campus programs, and student success initiatives. This deep engagement – teaching, curating resources, designing activities – reflects the library’s essential role in learning, research, and student success.
Life is full of challenges, deadlines, and complex questions. National Library Week and this year’s theme, “Find Your Joy,” remind us that libraries provide support and inspiration. Libraries are places where curiosity grows.
We hope this week inspires you to explore something new – browse a research database, meet with a librarian, enjoy an exhibition, or find a comfortable place to think. And remember, we’re here for you all year long.