I Love Libraries

Celebrate National Library Week April 8-14, 2018  with the theme, "Libraries Lead."

Misty Copeland serves as 2018 National Library Week Honorary Chair

In August 2015, Misty was promoted to principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, making her the first African American woman to ever be promoted to the position in the company’s 75-year history.

Misty is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, Life in Motion and her 2014 picture book, Firebird, won the Coretta Scott King Book Illustrator Award in 2015. Her new book, Ballerina Body, an instant New York Times Bestseller, published in March 2017.

Misty’s passion is giving back. She has worked with many charitable organizations and is dedicated to giving of her time to work with and mentor young girls and boys. Misty was named National Youth of the Year Ambassador for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in June 2013. In 2014, President Obama appointed Misty to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition.  And in 2015, she traveled to Rwanda with MindLeaps to help launch its girls program and to establish The Misty Copeland Scholarship.

The National Library Week 2018 celebration will mark the 60th anniversary of the first event, sponsored in 1958.

Ways to Celebrate

1. Visit your library.

Head to your public, school or academic library during National Library Week to see what's new and take part in the celebration.  Libraries across the country are participating. 

2. Show your support for libraries on social media.

Follow your library on social media and I Love Libraries on Facebook and Twitter. Join the celebration on social media by using the hashtags #NationalLibraryWeek and #LibrariesTransform.

Add a National Library Week Twibbon to your social media profile.  The frames are also available within the Facebook app.

Post these National Library Week graphics to your social media channels.

Facebook Share | Facebook Cover | Twitter Share | Twitter Header | Boombox | Leaderboard

Spanish Facebook Share | Spanish Facebook Cover | Spanish Twitter Share | Spanish Twitter Header | Spanish Boombox | Spanish Leaderboard

"Where did the library lead you" promotion.

National Library Week is the perfect opportunity to tell the world why you value libraries. This year, in keeping with the Libraries Lead theme, we're asking you tell us how the library led you to something of value in your life.

Library lovers can post to Twitter, Instagram, or on the I Love Libraries Facebook page during National Library Week for a chance to win. Entries can be a picture or text.  Creativity is encouraged. Just be sure to they include the hashtags #LibrariesLead and #NationalLibraryWeek for a chance to win.

One randomly selected winner will receive a $100 gift card and a copy of "Firebird," the Coretta Scott King Award-winning book by Misty Copeland, our National Library Week Honorary Chair.

Join in the fun. The promotion begins Sunday, April 8 at noon CT and ends Saturday, April 14 at noon CT. Official rules (PDF)

Need a prop to get started?  Download these printable PDFs: My library led the way to (PDF); The library led me to (PDF).

Celebrations during National Library Week

• Monday, April 9: State of America's Libraries Report released, including Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2017.
• Tuesday, April 10: National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, users, administrators and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers.
• Wednesday, April 11: National Bookmobile Day, a day to recognize the contributions of our nation's bookmobiles and the dedicated professionals who make quality bookmobile outreach possible in their communities.
• Thursday, April 12: Take Action for Libraries Day.

National Library Week 60th Anniversary

The National Library Week 2018 celebration will mark the 60th anniversary of the first event, sponsored in 1958.

In the mid-1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less on books and more on radios, televisions and musical instruments. Concerned that Americans were reading less, the ALA and the American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit citizens organization called the National Book Committee in 1954. The committee's goals were ambitious.  They ranged from "encouraging people to read in their increasing leisure time" to "improving incomes and health" and "developing strong and happy family life." 

In 1957, the committee developed a plan for National Library Week based on the idea that once people were motivated to read, they would support and use libraries. With the cooperation of ALA and with help from the Advertising Council, the first National Library Week was observed in 1958 with the theme "Wake Up and Read!"

---

Follow along:   #NationalLibraryWeek | #LibrariesTransform | Twitter | Facebook

Learn more about ALA's Libraries Transform public awareness campaign.