Welcome to Your Library: National Library Week 2021

By Pamela Noble and Tracie Frederick, contributing writers, Scientific Library; images courtesy of the American Library Association
Banner image for National Library Week 2021: The text reads "Welcome to Your Library," with the letters depicted on colored squares

From April 4–10, the Scientific Library invites you to celebrate National Library Week. This year’s theme is “Welcome to Your Library.” The Scientific Library staff is eager to greet you when in-person operations resume, but in the interim, they welcome you to explore the many services that continue beyond the four walls of the Library’s locations in Building 549 and at the Advanced Technology Research Facility. 

National Library Week was created by the American Library Association in 1958 to encourage people to read and visit their local libraries. The association picks the theme each year.

To celebrate National Library Week, follow the Library’s fun trivia challenge via email alerts that highlight libraries and librarians in the movies, then check the Library’s webpage on April 9 for the answers. 

Even during the challenges presented by the pandemic, the Scientific Library staff continues to provide information and work remotely to maintain access to the Library’s collection. Services include electronic journals and books, Interlibrary Loan, training classes, and more. Library staff members continue to be available to answer questions via email at NCIFredLibrary@mail.nih.gov or at the Library’s main telephone number, 301-846-1093. 

The Library has made many adaptations in the last year to benefit to the National Cancer Institute at Frederick community. Training classes that were previously presented in person are offered via Webex. In addition, the Library now provides recordings of its classes via Microsoft Stream. Training materials are uploaded and made available via Microsoft Teams. The Library hosted several new events to create connections among different research areas. Virtual discussions were offered on electron microscopy services and the NCI Patient-Derived Models Repository (PDMR), as well as other topics. Library staff are also adapting their popular Student Science Jeopardy Tournament into a virtual format to support the Werner H. Kirsten Student Intern Program.

Thank you for continuing to support the Scientific Library online until staff can once again welcome you back in person.

Pamela Noble is a serials technician in the Scientific Library, where she maintains the Library’s electronic and print journal access. Tracie Frederick is the library director. The Scientific Library assists in all phases of the research process by providing information services, resources, and training to all NCI at Frederick and Frederick National Laboratory employees.