By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
The Val Verde County Library is celebrating National Library Week with a full slate of events ranging from a community-wide duck hunt to yoga, book sales and, of course, plenty of coffee.
National Library Week is an annual celebration that highlights the essential role libraries and library workers play in strengthening communities. The 2026 theme, “Find Your Joy,” reflects the many ways libraries serve as gathering places for learning, creativity and connection. This year’s honorary chair is Mychal Threets, an award-winning librarian, author and the new host of “Reading Rainbow.”
The Val Verde County Library is launching its first-ever Quack Quest Duck Hunt as part of the celebration, with staff hiding miniature ducks throughout both the Main and Branch libraries — including kid-friendly versions for younger patrons.
“We’d like our community to get to know our libraries, and we are enlisting the ducks to help us,” said Barb Galvan, program librarian for the Val Verde County Library.
Residents can join the hunt at the Main Library, 300 Spring St., and the Branch Library, 315 E. Chapoy St.
A variety of programs are scheduled throughout the week:
Wednesday, April 22: Kids’ Story Time (10:30 a.m., Main Library)
Wednesday, April 22: Yoga at the VVCL (11 a.m., Main Library)
Wednesday, April 22: Coffee and conversation with Toni from Conrad’s Casita (5:30 p.m., Main Library), hosted by the Friends of the VVCL. Ebenezer Coffee will be the guest vendor.
Thursday, April 23: Fiber Arts Social (4 p.m., Main Library)
Thursday, April 23: Kids’ Tea Party (5 p.m., Main Library; registration recommended)
Saturday, April 25: Friends of the VVCL National Library Week Book Sale (11 a.m., Main Library), with Ebenezer Coffee as guest vendor
Saturday, April 25: Altoid Tin Wallet Craft for Adults (11:30 a.m., Main Library)
Program details and registration links are available at https://valverde.biblionix.com/catalog/ or on the library’s Facebook page.
