School Library Month is celebrated in April every year. Many school library programs celebrate the month along with National Library Week and National School Librarian Day. Libraries play an important role in our lives, and they have long been considered the main center of children’s learning and development. They are home to plenty of books, archives, and educational resources. Children and adults gather in school libraries to demonstrate their appreciation for books, their “storage,” and the work of librarians, as well as to encourage more young readers to pay a visit to the library.
History of School Library Month
The ancient library of Alexandria, a treasury of written manuscripts, was founded in the fourth century B.C. In general, medieval libraries consisted of collections of manuscripts copied by hand, illuminated manuscripts, which were usually created and maintained by monks and used by privileged classes. Manuscripts were often as precious as farms or houses. The earliest printed format put into children’s hands and used to teach reading from the 15th to the 18th centuries was the hornbook, a small wooden paddle with printed paper glued on top covered with a translucent layer of horn.
In the 17th century, the concept of books, created especially for young people, was founded by works such as “Orbis Sensualium Pictus,” the first picture book, by Johann Amos Comenius in 1657. The invention of the printing press in 1455 promised young people greater access to printed materials, and philosophers such as John Locke and publishers such as John Newbery promoted materials that were both enjoyable and informative for young people. Despite this, in the 20th century, books and other educational materials remained expensive and rare for most young people in the United States.
There was widespread public recognition and support for school libraries as early as the 19th century when state legislatures (beginning in 1835 in New York) recognized the value of school library resources and began to help fund them.
School Library Month was created by the American Association of School Librarians (A.A.S.L.) and was first held on April 1, 1985, with a ceremony on the western steps of the U.S. Capitol. Lucille Thomas, chair of the School Library Media Month Committee, played the lead role in preparing for the National School Library Month. Together with her committee, Thomas compiled a 52-page handbook for the first national celebration.
School Library Month timeline
The A.L.A. is founded as an organization that supports the development of libraries and library vocational education not only in the U.S. but around the world.
The educator and philosopher John Dewey gives his idea of a single concept of progressive education in his first published work, “The School and Society: Being Three Lectures.”
The A.A.S.L. becomes a vital division, and not just a section, of the A.L.A. and achieves sufficient autonomy within the organization.
The House and Senate Conference Committee recognizes the value of school libraries.
School Library Month FAQs
Which month is Library Month?
Library and Information Services Month is in November.
What is International School Library Month?
It is celebrated in October and helps spread the importance of reading among students worldwide.
How many books should the school library have?
The school library, which meets the resource recommendations, should have 15 to 20 books per child.
School Library Month Activities
Visit the library
The best way to celebrate the month is to visit the library. Talk to the librarian, tell them how much you appreciate their work, and read the books.
Share your story
You can share what you like best about school libraries on social media and highlight the good things and activities held in your school library. This way, you will be able to promote them.
Host a reading evening
This is an excellent opportunity to try reading different books to find out which ones are more and less interesting for you. In addition, it’s a great activity to develop a love of reading at all levels of the class. By hosting a reading evening, you can share your passion for reading and books with your loved ones, and there is no better time than the School Library Month.
5 Facts About Libraries That Will Blow Your Mind
France has a library of smells
The Osmothèque is a library and archive of the history of perfume creation with samples of perfumes, both modern and historical, to preserve their formulas.
The magicians’ library in New York
The Conjuring Arts Research Center is a library of books on magic and related arts such as hypnosis, belly talk, juggling, and sleight of hand.
Librarians had a certain style of handwriting
It was called the “library hand” and was taught in schools for librarians from the 19th century to the mid-20th century.
The Harvard Library has a fascinating history
It exists only because of the sinking of the Titanic, or rather because of the book collector who was on board it and in whose honor the library was founded.
The world’s largest library is in Washington
The Library of Congress has more than 168 million items in over 470 languages.
Why We Love School Library Month
It has a significant meaning
School Library Month helps encourage children to learn and develop. Children acquire skills such as researching, literacy, publishing, renewing, and returning books.
We love libraries
What could be better than silence, broken only by the sound of the book’s pages being turned over? The school library is the best place to read or study in a quiet and pleasant atmosphere.
It’s all about the fun of learning
During the month, you can cover various styles of learning and materials offered by school libraries. It can vary from audiobooks and video content to hardcover books and computers.
School Library Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | April 1 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | April 1 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | April 1 | Thursday |
| 2028 | April 1 | Saturday |
| 2029 | April 1 | Sunday |
