In honor of National Library Week, Downey Library hosting free events

The Downey City Library is celebrating National Library Week next week with a series of free events. Preschool children and their parents can meet Mayor Roger Brossmer at a "Meet the Mayor" Storytime event April 17-18 at 10:30 a.m.

Children will enjoy some of the mayor's favorite picture books and have the chance to make a special craft.

Parents can also attend "Every Child Ready to Read" on April 17 at 10:40 a.m. Parents will learn about the best books, nursery rhymes and games to help their child with early literacy.

Actor Duffy Hudson will appear as Albert Einstein at a performance April 18 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Cormack Room. The program for teens and adults will highlight Einstein's life, as well as his theories about gravity, the speed of light, time travel and more.

Library Week culminates April 21 with a bus trip to the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC. More than 400 authors will speak and sign books at the event that also features cooking demonstrations and poetry readings.

Roundtrip transportation is only $5. The bus will depart from the library at 8 a.m. and return at 5 p.m. Advanced registration is required.

All of the programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Downey City Library.

For more information, call (562) 904-7360, ext. 132.