Yes, it can be hard for librarians to pick just *one* favorite book. But for #NationalLibraryWeek, we asked our staff to do just that.

From bicycling to botany, we're celebrating a few of their faves, all available digitally: https://s.si.edu/3eQDqW7 

"Bicycling for Ladies" by Maria E. Ward was chosen by Trina Brown, head of our @amhistorymuseum Library.

Bicycling represented freedom and independence for many women in the late 1800s & the book provides practical information and advice: https://s.si.edu/363bWqB 

"The lure of the garden" by Hildegarde Hawthorne was selected by Robin Everly at Botany & Horticulture Library.

Not a typical book on gardening methods, but a meditation on the garden as place & importance to our well-being. In @BioDivLibrary https://s.si.edu/2yzHqKf 

"Frederick Douglass the orator " by James Monroe Gregory, selected by Baasil Wilder at @SmithsonianACM Library.

Douglass was known as "The Lion of Anacostia" & the library has a large collection of his work. Author Gregory was a trusted friend: https://s.si.edu/1bCNDAO 

"Quadrupeds of North America" by John James Audubon selected by Polly Lasker at our @NMNH Library.

Audubon’s second great work after his ‘Birds of America" with a variety of awe-inspiring drawings. In @BioDivLibrary from @DukeLibraries : https://s.si.edu/2x1NnPu 

"Principles of beauty relative to the human head", by Alexander Cozens. Selected by Anne Evenhaugen at our @americanart & @smithsoniannpg Library.

Visual representations of beauty and personality in the late 1700s with mix & match hairstyles: https://s.si.edu/3bB77bY 

"Leaves from the Book of Nature" by William Jardine, selected by Grace Costantino of @BioDivLibrary .

With so many species on a single plate, it invites the viewer to spend time & study them. Plus - would be amazing wallpaper!: https://s.si.edu/34ZTsbF 

"Journal des marches " selected by Chris Cottrill, head of @airandspace Library.

The Lafayette Escadrille mission logs give the reader a sense of the unforgiving circumstances of WWI - near constant aircraft engine malfunctions, machine guns jamming: https://s.si.edu/3bznN3k 

"Metamorphosis insectorum surinamensium" by Maria Sibylla Merian, selected by Nilda Lopez at the @cooperhewitt Library.

Merian was a remarkable naturalist, famous for her work in entomology & watercolor illustrations of insects and flowers: https://s.si.edu/2x3mOtf 

Do *YOU* have a favorite book in our collection?

Help us celebrate #NationalLibraryWeek and let us know!