School Library Month – Apr. 1, 2027

Expected School Library Month Deals

Throughout School Library Month, appreciation programs often emerge to support and recognize the invaluable contributions of school librarians and their vital learning spaces. Expect educational publishers like Scholastic and HarperCollins Children’s Books to offer special discounts on classroom sets and literacy resources. School supply retailers such as Lakeshore Learning Materials and Really Good Stuff may feature promotions on library organization tools and reading nook furniture. Additionally, organizations like the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) often promote fundraising initiatives and advocacy campaigns. We will update this page with confirmed live deals and initiatives as April approaches.

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.

How Businesses Can Celebrate School Library Month