EASTHAMPTON— This February, the Easthampton Public Library is inviting community members to spread the love and celebrate National Library Lovers’ Month by joining in on a weekly raffle. Winners will be rewarded with gift cards to local businesses, which will be revealed as the event progresses — and all one needs to do to enter is answer a fun question with no wrong answer.

The celebration is designed to drum up interest for the library and all it has to offer while supporting local businesses. The first week’s raffle will kick off on Saturday with the question “What is your favorite children’s book?” The prize is a $20 gift card to Small Oven. All gift cards are being donated by the Friends of the Library.

“It’s a celebration for library lovers, by library lovers,” said library volunteer Todd Snider.

Fellow volunteer, Peggy Loyd, remarked that many people come into the library to utilize the copier who have never used the library itself. Usually, they find themselves very surprised by just how much the library has to offer.

A wide selection of books is often just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what a public library offers a community. At the Easthampton Public Library, patrons can check out items ranging from cooking items and movie projectors to hotspots and museum passes. They can also reserve private alcoves to do their work in, and utilize the library’s staff for help with research, using technology and more.

“Libraries have become a sanctuary for people … People thought libraries were going to go by the wayside and they haven’t,” said library volunteer Joanne Schmidt.

Though libraries have long been thought of as spaces for quiet contemplation, the Easthampton Public Library is often bustling with social gatherings as well. With book groups, movie clubs, children’s activities, and opportunities for all ages to do various arts and crafts, the library prides itself in offering chances for people to learn and explore interests while making connections.

“There’s just all of these different services that the library provides that bring people inside,” said Snider.

Library Lovers’ Month isn’t just about appreciating those services, but also the very building that they take place in — and in Easthampton, the historic library building at 9 Park St. has a special place in the hearts of many residents. The beloved building originally opened to the public in February 1881 and has served its community dutifully ever since.

Soon, the library hopes to have even more space for community events with the opening of a new annex space in the former Bank of America building off of the downtown rotary, which was donated by bankESB. Renovations on the annex space broke ground in early October, and eventually the library has plans to move fully into the new building located at 52 Main St., but this will require further more extensive renovations.

The raffle can be entered both in person at the library and online via the library’s social media accounts. It is free to enter and entries do not require a library card. Entries for the week one drawing are due by 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, and the week one winner will be drawn and notified on Saturday, Feb. 8.

Entries are limited to one entry per person per week, and all who enter are automatically entered into the grand prize drawing.

“We’re doing it because everybody loves the library and we’re loving everybody back,” said Schmidt.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.