National Library Snapshot Day is coming to the Athol Public Library

On Monday, April 7

On April 7, the Athol Public Library will join libraries across the
Commonwealth and the nation to provide a snapshot of what happens in a day in the life of libraries. 

How many books are checked out?  How many people receive help finding a job?  Doing their taxes?  Doing their homework?  During Snapshot Day, libraries will collect data and photos that help demonstrate the value of libraries and raise public awareness that libraries are busier than ever.

Everyone can participate: Visit the library!  Borrow some books or great movies!  Sign up for a library card!  Use a public computer!  Relax in one of our comfy reading chairs with a new magazine!  Write a research paper in a quiet study room!  Attend a puppet show!  Play with Legos! Take lots of pictures.

Patrons can also use twitter #snapmass14 to post comments about the ways they use the library.  Many residents take advantage of all of the valuable resources libraries offer online, so we wanted to make sure that they could participate even if they aren't physically in the library on April 7.  Last year residents downloaded more than nine million full-text articles from trusted library resources.  Residents also download audio and eBooks and are accessing newly digitized treasures from collections across the Commonwealth.

We're looking forward to a fun, busy day that helps us show how much our residents use their library, said Library Director Deb Blanchard.  Busy days are the norm at libraries across the state. Over the past decade, libraries in Massachusetts have experienced a dramatic surge in usage, including a 50% increase in library visits and a 29% increase in circulation.

Nationally, Snapshot Day is supported by the American Library
Association which will compile state data to provide a national perspective of a day in the life of libraries.  Massachusetts Library Snapshot Day is presented by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, the Massachusetts Regional Library System, the Massachusetts Library Association, the Massachusetts School Library Association, and Boston Public Library.  Visit: mass.gov/libraries or contact for more information.