Library Lovers’ Day

Categories:: Arts & Entertainment
Tags:: Appreciation Books International
Where:: World
Date change rule:: Every February 14
Holiday emoji:: 📚

Library Lovers’ Day celebrates the invaluable role of libraries and librarians every February 14. Take a moment to appreciate these community hubs that offer knowledge, connection, and quiet refuge. Visit your local branch, check out a new book, or sign up for a library card today.

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Expected Library Lovers’ Day Deals

On Library Lovers’ Day, the focus shifts from commercial deals to community appreciation and support for libraries. Local bookstores might offer discounts on titles recommended by librarians, or host special events like author readings. Many libraries themselves will host open houses, book drives, or fundraising events to encourage patronage and donations. Consider supporting organizations like the American Library Association or the Public Library Association through their websites. We will update this page with confirmed local events and initiatives as February 14 approaches.

Platform Guide for Library Lovers’ Day

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #LibraryLoversDay. Share photos of your favorite library nook, recent reads, or a selfie with your library card.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #LibraryLoversDay. Share stories about how your local library has impacted you or your family.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #LibraryLoversDay. Tweet about a book you discovered at the library or a valuable service your library provides.

Library Lovers’ Day Hero

Melvil Dewey

Melvil Dewey (1851–1931) was an American librarian and educator best known for inventing the Dewey Decimal Classification system, which revolutionized library organization. He co-founded the American Library Association in 1876 and was a pioneer in modern librarianship, advocating for open stacks and professional training for librarians.

History of Library Lovers’ Day

Library Lovers’ Day was initially started in Australia in 2006 by the State Library of New South Wales (NSW). The day became a national holiday in 2007 when the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) joined in on the campaign to promote their passion for books. Though the aim was to raise awareness regarding the services some great libraries offer, the day soon became one that provided solace to those who were ‘dateless’ on V-Day.

Today, Library Lover’s Day is celebrated internationally with a new theme every year! For instance, in 2018 Bond University’s John & Alison Kearney Library went all out and celebrated the day with a flashy display of a vintage typewriter, pens, and paper. The items were placed so visitors could write love letters to a special someone or their favorite library.

In 2019, ALIA introduced the theme ‘Library Love Stories,’ which also included a fictional story writing competition about finding love in the library. The same year, #LibraryLoversDay was also trending on Twitter. In 2020, the South Perth Libraries organized an event where people had to fill out a ‘Matchmaking Form’ and the library staff recommended the readers books and authors they may fall in love with based on their personality traits. Talk about a match made in heaven!

Library Lovers’ Day timeline

3rd millennium B.C.

The First Library

The world’s first library is formed in the Babylonian town of Nippur.

3rd century B.C.

The Largest Ancient Library

The Library of Alexandria, the biggest library of the ancient world with literature from across the globe, is established.

Middle Ages

Of Riches and Libraries

Private libraries are formed by kings and the Vatican City introduces its library.

18 century

The Industrial Revolution

Modern libraries are designed after being separated from the palaces they were a part of.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Library Lovers’ Day

Local businesses can celebrate Library Lovers’ Day by partnering with their community libraries. Consider sponsoring a reading program, donating books, or offering a special discount to customers who show their library card. Coffee shops could host a ‘read-in’ event, while bookstores might donate a percentage of sales to the local library, fostering a love for reading and supporting vital community resources.

Library Lovers’ Day FAQs

When is Library Lovers’ Day?

In 2027, Library Lovers’ Day is observed on Sunday, February 14. It’s a perfect opportunity to visit your local branch, explore new books, and appreciate the dedicated staff who make libraries special.

How many libraries are there in the U.S.?

The vast network of U.S. libraries continues to provide essential services. Public libraries alone number over 9,000, offering everything from digital resources to community events, reflecting their enduring importance.

What is the most visited library in the world?

While difficult to pinpoint a single ‘most visited’ globally, institutions like the British Library and the Library of Congress also see immense foot traffic and digital engagement, showcasing the universal appeal of these knowledge repositories.

What services do modern libraries offer?

Beyond traditional lending, libraries today function as vital community hubs, offering workshops, cultural programs, meeting spaces, and access to educational resources that support lifelong learning for all ages.

Library Lovers’ Day Activities

Analyze your favorite character
Schedule an event with your friends where each member gets to write a complete personality analysis of their favorite character in a book. Exchange the analysis with someone who hasn’t read that book yet so they develop an interest in reading the novel that has you so intrigued.
Dress up like a book character
Why wait for Halloween when you can dress up as your favorite book character on Library Lover’s Day? The options are endless, be it a character from “Twilight”, “The Hunger Games”, “Pride and Prejudice”, or “Gone with the Wind.”
Do some good
Organize an event at a library that welcomes children suffering from disabilities and life-threatening diseases. The aim is to partner up with a child and introduce them to your favorite book and its storyline.

Five Fun Facts About Libraries

Before the word ‘library’ was created
In China, the library was called ‘building storing books’ before the official term was introduced.
The largest library in the world
The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., stocks more than 39 million books.
The most libraries per capita in the world
The city of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom has the most libraries per 100,000 people in the world — 60.5.
Other names for a library
Other names for a library include Athenaeum, ambry, archives, reference collection, and incunabula.
Number of libraries in developing countries
There are 230,000 public libraries in developing countries across the world.

Why We Love Library Lovers’ Day

They serve as educational resources
Even in the day and age of Google, a library still serves as an essential educational resource to students. This is because libraries stock books and manuscripts that are not even available online.
You can read an otherwise unaffordable book
Don’t have enough money to spend on novels or research books? Don’t worry, all you need is a membership to a well-stocked library and you can read any book of your choice. Plus point: It won’t cost you an arm and a leg!
Libraries provide silence
Not everyone resides in households that provide hours of silence required to conduct research and write papers. During times like these, libraries play an essential role, especially for students who reside in dorm rooms.