September is Library Card Sign-Up Month!
Autobots, roll out...to the library!
Whether you’re upgrading your skills, scouting for knowledge and information, or connecting with other heroic readers, a library card is your key to an arsenal of resources. Spark your creativity as a builder or programmer by tinkering in your library’s makerspace; mine the library’s stacks and databases for new stories and adventures; kickstart your critical thinking skills to defeat the Decepticons of misinformation lurking online. Hitting the road? Use your library card to fuel your mind with books, e-Books, audiobooks, and museum passes.
This year, we're teaming up with Hasbro and Skybound Entertainment's TRANSFORMERS franchise to encourage people everywhere to roll out to their library and sign up for a library card. Check back this summer for ways you can celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month!
Merch and Downloadables
TRANSFORMERS Poster
Display this poster featuring the heroic Autobot Optimus Prime to show everyone there’s more than meets the eye to your local library. Also available as a bookmark. Roll out and sign up for a library card today!
Poster and bookmark art by Marz Jr.
Library Card Sign-Up Merch
Imagine what you can do with a library card! Spread the word about the endless possibilities of what a library card can help you DISCOVER and CREATE with our collection of Library Card merch.
More coming soon!
Check back soon for downloadables to help you celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month!
2024's Library Card Sign-Up Month is made possible with support from:
About Library Card Sign-Up Month
Library Card Sign-Up Month first started in 1987 as a response to then Secretary of Education, William Bennett, who stated: “Let’s have a campaign … Every child should obtain a library card and use it.”
The American Library Association took Secretary Bennett’s words seriously and teamed up with the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) to start the campaign, with a grant of $85,000 from the Reader’s Digest Foundation. A telegram was sent to Secretary Bennett saying, “We accept your challenge.”
The first theme was “The Best Gift You’ll Ever Give Your Child … A Library Card.” Because of the Reader’s Digest grant, Library Card Sign-Up Month was advertised on over 500 TV and radio stations, along with 200 magazines. Packets of information and ideas were sent out to libraries to help the campaign gain momentum and to inspire librarians. Ideas included circulating a letter from the librarian, awards and celebrations, PTA recruitment, and joint sponsors.
October 14 was the kick off celebration for the campaign, held on the Mall in Washington, D.C., with 500 children in attendance. The event included remarks from Chisholm, Newman, and Secretary Bennett, along with story and craft time, and free pizza.
The following year September was declared Library Card Sign-Up Month. Since then, thousands of public libraries and schools have participated every fall, stressing the importance of obtaining a library card as a child’s most important school supply.
Subscribe to the I Love Libraries newsletter for library news and advocacy updates.
Support I Love Libraries and our efforts to promote the value of libraries and librarians.