Newly Renovated Library Dome
VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The VCBC Public Library is excited to announce its participation in the inaugural Library Joy Week, a statewide celebration taking place from February 1-7, 2026, in partnership with the North Dakota Library Association and the North Dakota State Library.
Library Director Anita Tulp said, “Libraries have always been a sacred space for me. As a child growing up in an imperfect home and world, I could escape through the adventures of strong characters like Nancy Drew and Laura Ingalls Wilder. I could find solace in the survival of characters that mirrored experiences like my own. I found joy in exploring imagined worlds and fantasy that gave me hope for a future that was better than what I was told to expect. Reading a wide variety of genres helped me understand myself as well as others with different ideologies and experiences than mine. Reading has shaped me into who I am today. I didn’t think that my dream of working in a library and always having a never-ending supply of books to read could come true, yet here I am, living the dream as director of the VCBC Public Library.”
To celebrate the joy that libraries bring to people of all ages, Valley City Barnes County Public Library will be hosting a variety of programs and activities throughout the week, including: Video clips and quotes from our patrons published on Facebook each day, Giant Joy Game Nights (all ages welcome) Tues., Feb. 3 and Thurs., Feb. 5,
from 4 to 6 pm (featuring a variety of giant games) Coffee and Cookies with Library Board and Foundation Members, Fri., Feb 6, from 1 to 3 pm.
“Libraries are much more than buildings filled with books; they are the heart of our communities where discovery and connection happen every day,” says State Librarian Mary Soucie. “Library Joy Week is our way of shining a light on those small, transformative experiences—whether it’s a child discovering their first favorite story or someone mastering a new skill.”
Library Joy Week is a chance to celebrate the joy our library brings to the residents of Valley City and Barnes County. As staff members, we see examples of our community members experiencing joyful moments in the library every day. Whether it is through tossing play snowballs during Storytime, finding the book or resource that you have been looking for, or by sharing a fun story and conversation with a staff member, joy is shared by all in the library! Help us celebrate library joy by stopping by the library, attending programs and events, and sharing with others how the library provides joy in your life.
Join us February 1-7 for Library Joy Week! To learn more about your public library, visit online by going to vcbclibrary.org, follow our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/VCBCLibrary, find us on Instagram at Instagram.com/vcbclibrary/ or stop by the library and ask for a tour and more information about how you can
experience “Library Joy.”