ASHLAND, Ky. — Helping people and their communities thrive – that’s what libraries do best. And that’s what libraries, including Boyd County Public Library, are celebrating during National Library Week.

“Communities Thrive @ Your Library” is the theme for the week-long celebration, April 11-17. With books, movies, music, computers and internet access, downloadable materials and dozens of databases, as well as a variety of programs for all ages, Boyd County Public Library helps its community thrive in all sorts of ways, said Director Debbie Cosper.

The library also helps bring the community together. A perfect example of that is the fourth annual Community Fair, which kicks off National Library Week a day early on Saturday, April 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Main Branch. The library will be full of community groups available to talk about their programs and services, and ready to sign up new members and/or volunteers. Boyd County Public Library Friends is sponsoring a bake sale.

“It will be a fun day, full of lots of good information,” Cosper said. “We hope local residents will come out and get a taste of what their community has to offer.”

There’s still time for groups to sign up. To do so, call Amanda Clark at (606) 329-0518, ext. 1140, or email her: aclark@thebookplace.org.

An online scavenger hunt starts Monday, April 12, on www.thebookplace.org. People can enter one time during the week, through Saturday, April 17. The winner gets a $25 iTunes gift card. There will also be a drawing at the end of the week for a library gift basket – coffee mug, tote, umbrella, license plate holder and more cool stuff. Everyone who checks out materials during the week will get an entry slip.

Other National Library Week events include:

Monday, April 12, is Patron Appreciation Day. There will be food throughout the day at all branches, and everyone who checks out gets a free BCPL pen.

Tuesday, April 13, is National Library Workers Day. So, stop in and let library staff know what you think of your library and the services it provides.

Wednesday, April 14, is the first-ever National Bookmobile Day. BCPL does not have a bookmobile, but it does service about 80 homebound patrons regularly with its outreach vehicle.

Thursday, April 15, is BCPL Friends Day. Members of the group will have food and giveaways at the Main Branch from noon to 2 p.m. Everyone who joins the Friends’ mailing list that day will also be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant.

Saturday, April 17, is Dance off Your Fines Day at the Summit Branch, 1016 Summit Road. All day, patrons can use the Wii Dance Dance Revolution game to dance off their fines – 25 cents a minute up to $5.

National Library Week is a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries, librarians and library workers in schools, campuses and communities nationwide. A non-profit citizens group, the National Book Committee, organized the first National Library Week in 1958, in response to a concern that Americans were reading less, and instead spending more time watching television and listening to the radio. It is now sponsored by the American Library Association across the country each April.