Friends of the Library Celebrates National Library Week & National Volunteer Week 2026
Each April, libraries across the country celebrate National Library Week—a nationwide observance that began in 1958 to recognize the important role libraries play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. Created by the American Library Association and first sponsored with support from the National Book Committee, National Library Week was established to encourage Americans to read, support their local libraries, and celebrate the library professionals who connect communities with information, resources, and lifelong learning.
Held each year in April, National Library Week is a time to recognize that libraries are far more than buildings filled with books—they are centers for education, discovery, connection, and community. For the Friends of the Peachtree City Library, it is also an opportunity to celebrate the people and partnerships that make our library such a valuable part of Peachtree City.
During this year’s National Library Week and National Volunteer Week, the Friends of the Peachtree City Library spent the week raising awareness, supporting library programs, and celebrating the staff and volunteers who help make the library such a welcoming and vibrant community resource.
Throughout the week, the Friends partnered with local businesses, including Chick-fil-A Peachtree City Midtown and TCBY Braelinn Village, to host community fundraiser nights that encouraged residents to support the library through simple, family-friendly outings. These events helped raise funds for future library programs while increasing visibility for the Friends’ mission in the community.
A highlight of the week came on Wednesday, April 22, when the Friends hosted its Annual Library Staff & Volunteer Celebration at Partners II Pizza in Aberdeen Center. The event brought together library staff and volunteers for an evening of appreciation, food, and fellowship in recognition of the care, time, and dedication they bring to the library year-round. Timed to coincide with both National Library Week and National Volunteer Week, the celebration served as a meaningful opportunity to thank those who work behind the scenes and on the front lines to make the library such a welcoming place for all.
The week concluded on Friday, April 24, with the City of Peachtree City’s Touch-A-Truck event at Picnic Park, where the Friends joined families for one of the city’s most popular community events. As part of the event, the Friends funded the purchase of 250 children’s books, which were distributed free to children in attendance. The giveaway helped promote early literacy, encourage a love of reading, and give hundreds of children the opportunity to leave with a book of their own.
“National Library Week is an opportunity to celebrate not only the library itself, but the people who make it such a welcoming and valuable part of our community,” said Carl Hoverstad, President of the Friends of the Peachtree City Library. “We are grateful for our partnership with the Peachtree City Library and deeply appreciative of the incredible staff and volunteers whose dedication, care, and enthusiasm make the library such a special place for so many.”
From celebrating library staff and volunteers to supporting literacy and community outreach, National Library Week offered a meaningful reminder of the many ways the Peachtree City Library serves our community—and the important role the Friends play in helping that work continue.
