Actress, author and activist Natalie Portman to serve as 2021 National Library Week honorary chair

CHICAGO—Natalie Portman, Academy Award-winning actress, director, producer, author and activist, will lend her star power to shine a spotlight on our nation’s libraries as the honorary chair of National Library Week, April 4-10, 2021. She will help highlight the essential role libraries, librarians and library workers play in serving their communities, especially during challenging times.

“I’m delighted to join ALA and libraries everywhere in celebrating National Library Week,” said Portman. “Libraries are open, inclusive places that foster a sense of belonging and community. They show us anything is possible by encouraging a love of learning, discovery and exploration. I hope people will take time during the week to visit their library online or in person.”

The theme for National Library Week 2021, “Welcome to Your Library,” promotes the idea that libraries extend far beyond the four walls of a building – and that everyone is welcome to use their services. During the pandemic libraries have been going above and beyond to adapt to our changing world by expanding their resources and continuing to meet the needs of their users. Whether people visit in person or virtually, libraries offer opportunities for everyone to explore new worlds and become their best selves through access to technology, multimedia content and educational programs.

“We are so pleased to have Natalie Portman as the honorary chair of National Library Week 2021,” said American Library Association President (ALA) Julius C. Jefferson, Jr. “As a children’s book author, Natalie is a champion of empowerment and equality, values that reflect the work of librarians and library staff every day to make a difference in people’s lives and communities.”

Portman is an Academy Award-winning actress, director, producer and activist whose credits include “Black Swan,” “Jackie,” and the upcoming “Thor: Love and Thunder.” A lifelong fan of books, she shares the books she’s reading on her Instagram feed, as part of Natalie Portman's Book Club, using the hashtag #whatnatreads. Born in Jerusalem, Israel, she is a graduate of Harvard University, and now lives with her family in Los Angeles. “Natalie Portman’s Fables” is her debut picture book.

Free digital graphics promoting National Library Week are now available at ala.org/nlw. The National Library Week poster and other promotional materials featuring the “Welcome to Your Library” theme are available for purchase through the ALA Store; T-shirts, totes and other print-on-demand items are for sale at bit.ly/GraphicsGiftShop.

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is an annual observance by the American Library Association and libraries across the country each April. National Library Week celebrations include the release of ALA’s 2021 “State of America’s Libraries Report,” April 5; National Library Workers Day, April 6; National Day for Bookmobiles and Outreach Services, April 7; Take Action for Libraries Day, April 8; and the celebration of School Library Month throughout April.

For more information about National Library Week, please visit ala.org/nlw.