Hawaiʻi’s State Poet Laureate performs virtual reading during National Library Week

The Hawaiʻi State Public Library System encourages all community members to stop by their local library during National Library Week, April 23-29, to explore all it has to offer.

Hawaiʻi’s State Poet Laureate, Brandy Nālani McDougall, will share her unique and empowering stories of Hawaiʻi through poetry on April 22 at 10 a.m.

To register for the virtual event, go to bit.ly/GetPoetic. 

Ongoing programs and services offered at the local public libraries include:

• Getting keiki ready for school: books for babies, toddler tales and keiki story times, interactive crafts for keiki and their caregivers.

• Promoting student success: Free access to Wi-Fi and computers, space to study and conduct research, learning activities such as Esports and book groups, and world-class instruction for popular string and band instruments through self-paced online lessons from professional musicians (ArtistWorks).

• Delivering free news, entertainment and learning programs for adults: The digital version of The New York Times, more than 7,000 newspapers and magazines from around the globe available online (PressReader), streaming movies and programs, including Great Courses (Kanopy), language learning (Mango Languages), access to technology equipment and classes, programs to understand history and culture, access to government resources and community meeting spaces.

• Supporting success in the workplace: support for job seeking, digital workplace skills (Skill Finder), free databases and other business resources (small businesses/entrepreneurs).

These special programs are at one of Hawaii’s public libraries only during National Library Week: bit.ly/hspls-nlw2023

“Most people know about the wealth of stories available at the library, from picture books and large print to audiobooks and e-books, but there’s so much more to interest and delight our keiki to kūpuna and everyone in between,” State Librarian Stacey A. Aldrich said.

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries of all types across the country each April.