National Library Week

National Library Week 2024: Ready, Set, Library!

The theme for National Library Week 2024 (April 7-13) is Ready, Set, Library! National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and Newbery and Pura Belpré-award winning author Meg Medina will serve as 2024 Honorary Chair.

How to Participate Celebration Days Free Tools

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Ways to Celebrate

1. Visit your library.

National Library Week is the perfect time to visit your library. Many libraries have special events planned for the week. Bring the kids or invite your friends. Meet the librarians. Check out books or other great items in your library's collection or attend a program. Take time to learn all your library has to offer!

2. Tell us how you library for a chance to win

4. Follow your library, ALA, and I Love Libraries on social media.

    Be sure to follow your library on social media so you don't miss out on all they have to offer.
    Post one of our available graphics to your social media account and join the conversation by using the hashtags #NationalLibraryWeek.

    Don't forget to follow the American Library Association and I Love Libraries on social media!
    ALA accounts: Twitter: @ALALibrary | Facebook: @AmericanLibraryAssociation | Instagram: @americanlibraryassociation
    I Love Libraries: Twitter: @IloveLibraries | Facebook @ILoveLibraries

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Celebration Days During National Library Week

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Free Tools to Celebrate

8.5 x 11" Mini-Poster in English (PDF) | 8.5 x 11" Mini-Poster in Spanish (PDF)

8.5 x 11" Mini-poster with room to customize in English (PDF) | 8.5 x 11" Mini-poster with room to customize in Spanish (PDF)

11 X 17" Mini-poster in English (PDF) | 11 X 17" Mini-poster in Spanish (PDF)

National Library Week Proclamation in English (Word doc) | National Library Week Proclamation in Spanish (Word doc)

National Library Week Sample Press Release in English (Word doc) | National Library Week Sample Press Release In Spanish (Word doc)

Social Media Graphics

Share these graphics on social media with the hashtag #NationalLibraryWeek.

Graphics Featuring Honorary Chair

Editable Canva Templates

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Check out the Ready, Set, Library! poster, poster file, mini-poster file, library card artwork, bookmarks, and Meg Medina READ poster available at the ALA Store.

The theme for National Library Week 2024, “Ready, Set, Library!,” promotes the idea that in our always-online world, libraries give us a green light to something truly special: a place to connect with others, learn new skills, and focus on what matters most.Find your crew at your library’s author talks, workshops, and book clubs.

No matter where you find yourself on the roadmap through life’s journey—preparing for a new career, launching a business, or raising a family—your library provides an inclusive and supportive community where everyone belongs.

Get ready to explore, become inspired, and connect with your library this National Library Week. Libraries are there for you, all the way to the finish line.

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About Meg Medina

Meg Medina, the 2023­­­­–2024 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, is a Cuban American author who writes for readers of all ages. Her middle-grade novel Merci Suárez Changes Gears received a Newbery Medal and was a New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book of the Year, among many other distinctions. Its sequel, Merci Suárez Can’t Dance, received five starred reviews, while Merci Suárez Plays It Cool received four stars, with Kirkus Reviews calling it “a fabulous finale to a memorable trilogy.” Her most recent picture book, Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away, received honors including a Charlotte Zolotow Award and was the 2020 Jumpstart Read for the Record selection, reaching 2.24 million readers. She received a Pura Belpré Author Award Honor for her picture book Mango, Abuela, and Me. Her young adult novel Burn Baby Burn earned numerous distinctions, including being long-listed for the National Book Award and short-listed for the Kirkus Prize. Meg Medina received a Pura Belpré Author Award and a Cybils Award for her young adult novel Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, which has been adapted and illustrated as a graphic novel by Mel Valentine Vargas. She also received an Ezra Jack Keats Writer Award for her picture book Tía Isa Wants a Car. When she is not writing, Meg Medina works on community projects that support girls, Latino youth, and literacy. She lives with her family in Richmond, Virginia.

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About National Library Week

National Library Week is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.

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!"  The 2023 celebration marks the 65th anniversary of the first event.

Read more about the history of National Library Week at American Libraries magazine, and check out the list of past National Library Week themes.

 

 

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