Friends of libraries have cause to rejoice — library week is almost here.

From April 10–16, the Scarborough-Philips Library will host an on-campus celebration of National Library Week, a nationwide event sponsored by the American Library Association.

“Each celebration varies from library to library, and here at St. Edward’s we celebrate it Monday through Friday,” said Connie Cabezas, the systems librarian at the St. Edward’s library.

National Library Week was first celebrated in 1958. It is a week-long celebration of the continuous contributions of both libraries and librarians.

The events at Scarborough-Phillips commence on April 11 from 4–6 p.m., when a new media center and a new library website will kick off.

Library-goers are welcome to snacks and drinks and are encouraged to test the new system. There will also be opportunities to score Amy’s Ice Cream and Starbucks gift cards.

Starting at 1:30 p.m. on April 12, Scarborough-Phillips will be offering free Blue Bell ice cream outside of the library while supplies last. St. Edward’s students love their ice cream, so plan to get there early.

All day April 13, the library will be serving coffee and donuts — with extra donuts, Cabezas added.

On April 14, there will be a poetry reading at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome to participate, whether it be through reading or listening. Participants are welcome to read original poems, classic poems or just poems that they enjoy.

If the often-unpredictable Texas weather permits, the poetry readings will take place outside.

On April 15, there will be one lucky winner of a $50 gift card to the Alamo Drafthouse. The catch? Simply “like” the Scarborough-Phillips Library on Facebook.

The library will give books away all week. The books are usually donations and discards that are no longer of use to the library, but many may still be highly readable and enjoyable.