National Library Week is this week, and the Suffolk Public Library encourages residents to get out and visit the closest library branch to see what’s happening.

The Suffolk libraries are joining libraries in schools, campuses and communities nationwide in celebrating National Library Week, a time to highlight the changing role of libraries, librarians and library workers.

The Suffolk Public Library is celebrating National Library Week with several events, to include a Local Authors’ Reception, Snapshot Virginia Day, National Library Workers’ Day, a Mobile Pop-Up Library throughout the community and multiple youth and family activities.

“Libraries today are more than warehouses for books,” states a city press release. “Instead, libraries and librarians are change agents within their communities — transforming lives through innovative educational resources and forward-thinking programming. Libraries are doing their part to close the digital divide and level the playing field by providing free access to information and technologies that many in their communities would be hard pressed to find elsewhere.

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

For more information and for the event schedule, visit the Suffolk Public Library at www.suffolkpubliclibrary.com or call 514-7323.