ACTIVITIES MARK WEEK AT LIBRARY

Gloria Steinem, Sean Connery, and Oprah Winfrey credit libraries for making a difference in their lives.

"Libraries Change Lives" is the national theme for National Library Week, which will be observed this week at libraries across the nation, including the Cape Girardeau Public Library, 711 N. Clark.

Steinem, a well-known author and feminist, says she spent all of her free time as a young girl in a library, reading to escape from an impoverished home. Winfrey, a television personality, and Connery, of James Bond movie fame, are both avid library users.

Today there are more than 116,219 public, school, college and special libraries in the U.S.

The Cape Girardeau Public Library is sponsoring a number of special programs this week at its facility.

The programs include:

Monday: Patron Appreciation Day, Hirsch Community Room, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., where library services will be on display.

Tuesday: Library Lovers Day, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Library users will be asked to tell in 100 words or less how the library or librarian has helped change their life.

Wednesday: Great American Read Aloud/Night of a Thousand Stars, Hirsch Community Room, 7 to 8 p.m. Special guest readers, Richard Bollwerk, Mary-Anne Maloney, Carol Keeler, Kim Dawson and Tom Hardy will read aloud from their favorite books.

Thursday: Older Adults Day, Hirsch Community Room, 10 a.m., video entitled, "Cape Girardeau, Story of a River City; 1 p.m., Nutrition and the Older Adult, program presented by Susan Mills, food and nutrition specialist, University of Missouri Extension; 2 p.m., Exercise discussions, by Virginia Heston, w ellness coordinator, Southeast Missouri Hospital; 3 p.m., repeat of 10 a.m. program.

Friday: Fantastic Friday Film Festival, Hirsch community Room, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., films approved for all ages.