Take Your Child To The Library Day

Categories:: Cause
Tags:: Books Children Educational
Where:: Canada
Date change rule:: 1st Saturday of February
Holiday emoji:: 📚

Take Your Child To The Library Day encourages families across the United States and Canada to visit their local libraries every first Saturday of February. This special day highlights the library’s vital role in fostering literacy, imagination, and community connection. Explore story times, workshops, and countless books to inspire young minds.

Deals
Platforms
Social
Hero
History
Timeline
Businesses
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate

Expected Take Your Child To The Library Day Deals

As a ‘Cause’ holiday focused on community and education, Take Your Child To The Library Day doesn’t typically feature commercial deals, but rather encourages support for library programs and literacy initiatives. Many local libraries partner with organizations like the American Library Association to host special events, book drives, and fundraising efforts. Families might find discounted memberships to ‘Friends of the Library’ groups, or local businesses like Barnes & Noble or Scholastic may offer promotions on children’s books or educational materials in support of literacy. Check with your local library for specific events, donation opportunities, or ways to volunteer. We will update this page with confirmed live events as February approaches.

Platform Guide for Take Your Child To The Library Day

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #LibraryDay. Share photos of your child’s library visit and favorite books.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #TakeYourChildToTheLibraryDay. Post Reels showcasing your local library’s children’s section or a fun story time.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #LibraryLove. Share quick tips for engaging kids at the library or promote local library events.

Take Your Child To The Library Day Hero

Melvil Dewey

Melvil Dewey (1851–1931) was an American librarian and educator who invented the Dewey Decimal Classification system, a standard method for categorizing and organizing books in libraries worldwide. His work revolutionized library science and made information more accessible to the public, significantly impacting how children and adults navigate library collections.

History of Take Your Child To The Library Day

We all remember the warm welcome and exhilarating feeling of going to the library as kids. Growing up, the excitement of going through bookshelves and finding our next adventure in the book we checked out was unparalleled. The dusty smell of the library and the pages of books invoke nostalgia. It is through those visits that most of us learned the Dewey Decimal System.

Now that almost everything is available on the internet, many children are being deprived of making these fond memories. We celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day to promote the building of better reading habits, teach children about responsibility, and engage and make memories with them.

Nadine Lipman and Caitlin Augusta are initiators of Take Your Child to the Library Day. The idea was created by Lipman as a fun way to stimulate interest in local libraries and drive children to the events and resources available there throughout the year. The holiday was first celebrated in 2011, and today countless libraries around the country participate.

Take Your Child To The Library Day timeline

1998

Read Across America

The Read Across America initiative is established by the National Education Association (N.E.A.).

2011

The Holiday is Created

Nadine Lipman and Caitlin Augusta initiate Take Your Child to the Library Day.

February 4, 2012

A Fantastic Turnout

120 libraries from 17 states participate in the holiday, with 15,000 visitors.

2015

The Holiday Grows

More than 723 libraries from 46 states participate, with the holiday also being observed in other countries.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Take Your Child To The Library Day

Local businesses can celebrate Take Your Child To The Library Day by sponsoring children’s programs or donating books to their community libraries. Restaurants could offer a ‘Kids Read Free’ meal deal with a library card, while local bookstores might host special story times or offer discounts on children’s literature. Community centers can promote library events, encouraging families to discover the educational and recreational resources available. Emphasize the long-term benefits of literacy and community engagement.

Take Your Child To The Library Day FAQs

When is Take Your Child To The Library Day?

For 2027, Take Your Child To The Library Day will be celebrated on Saturday, February 6. It’s an excellent opportunity to introduce children to the joy of reading and the vibrant community hub that libraries provide.

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

The U.S. boasts a significant number of libraries, with public libraries alone numbering over 9,000 branches. These institutions are crucial for literacy and community development, offering diverse programs for all ages.

What are the benefits of taking a child to the library?

A library visit can spark imagination, improve vocabulary, and introduce children to new ideas and cultures. Beyond books, libraries often host engaging events like puppet shows, craft sessions, and coding clubs, enhancing social and cognitive development.

Is a library card free for children?

Generally, children can obtain a library card at no cost, often requiring a parent or guardian’s signature. This free access is a cornerstone of public libraries, empowering young learners to borrow books, use computers, and participate in programs.

Take Your Child To The Library Day Activities

Head to the library
Celebrations don’t get simpler and better than this. Take your child or the whole family to your local library and spend the day immersed in literature.
Join a reading club
Sign up your kid for a reading club to keep the celebrations going long-term. They’ll love this!
Read a story to your child
Read along, or out loud, the stories your child selects from the library. This will become a special tradition for your child and will encourage better reading habits.

5 Facts About Reading That Will Make You Pick A Book

Reading relieves stress
Studies have proved that reading cuts down stress by 68%.
Reading is a skill
Reading is a skill that takes time to develop, with 40% of all students estimated to be poor readers.
It all adds up
Reading just 20 minutes a day adds up to reading about 1.8 million words per year.
Reading builds vocabulary
Children learn between 4,000 to 12,000 words each year just by reading.
Classroom libraries are essential
Students without library corners in their classrooms read 50% less than kids with library corners.

Why We Love Take Your Child To The Library Day

Building reading as a habit
Children are so immersed in watching videos and playing video games these days. Children’s reading culture is declining. Taking your kids to the library can cultivate an interest in literature and reading.
Libraries have evolved
To make the experience interactive for children, libraries have updated their catalogs, and now have digital offerings of books as well. There are also resources to supplement reading, which are worth checking out.
Libraries are a tradition
The popularity of libraries has dwindled in recent years, but they are a tradition, and even a sanctuary, to many people. Preserving libraries is part of the goals of Take Your Child to the Library Day.