National Library Week is coming up April 12-18, and the theme this year is "Worlds Connect @ Your Library."

Worlds certainly connected at the library for Dermot Kelly of Southern Pines. He met his wife, Barbara, there. Originally from Northern Ireland, Kelly now divides his time between North Carolina and Canada.

"I have been wintering in Southern Pines for 12 years and made a happy connection with Barbara through visits to the library," Kelly says. "We found out we both enjoyed a good walk so we started going on outings together."

The connection obviously grew stronger, and the couple has been happily married for two years.

Barbara Kelly worked full-time at Southern Pines Public Library for seven years before retiring in 2007. A North Carolina native, she now works part-time at the Reference desk when she and Dermot are "down south."

"I love working at the library," Barbara says. "The opportunity to learn new things and be around people is great. Meeting my husband there was absolutely the icing on the cake!"

While not offering everyone a "love connection" like that of the Kellys, the library can offer free resources like books, magazines, DVDs, and computer and WiFi access. At Southern Pines Public Library, people of all ages and backgrounds come together for story times and programs, to do research, to get help finding a job or to find homework help.

In order to show that "Worlds Connect," Southern Pines Public Library invites local residents originally from other parts of the world to participate in the National Library Week campaign by coming into the library and being photographed for a display.

According to Library Director Lynn Thompson, the display "will be a visual reminder of the diversity of our community and also of the wonderful worlds available at your library."

For more information on National Library Week events, call 692-8235 or visit www.sppl.net.