The American Library Association (ALA) has named GRAMMY® Award-winning composer, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Laufey as honorary chair of Library Card Sign-up Month. This September, Laufey will join ALA and libraries across the U.S. to give everyone a front row seat to the joy of getting a library card.
First celebrated in 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month has been held each September to mark the beginning of the school year. During the month, ALA and thousands of libraries and schools unite in a national effort to promote all the offerings that having a library card unlocks.
Laufey is the youngest ever and two-time recipient of the GRAMMY® Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and has captivated a generation with virtuosic songs of love and self-discovery by manifesting her vision of jazz- and classical-infused pop music. In 2025, she was named as one of TIME’s Women of the Year.
As honorary chair, Laufey will spotlight how a library card hits all the right notes no matter your tastes, whether you enjoy reading a classic story, vibing out in a cozy nook, learning new skills in the library’s makerspace, or checking out instruments and tools in the Library of Things.
“Laufey’s ability to connect with fans around the world makes her an inspiring champion for libraries and the transformative power of a library card,” said ALA President Sam Helmick. “Her passion for reading, creativity, and community mirrors the heart of what libraries stand for.”
Along with her honorary chair role, Laufey will also join ALA’s celebrity READ® campaign and be featured on a new READ® poster, available now for purchase in the ALA Store alongside official Library Card Sign-up Month posters and bookmarks.
“Growing up caught between different cultures and moving around a lot, libraries always served as a safe haven for me,” said Laufey. “I loved reading, and the idea that I could find something that connected to every part of me felt magical. Whether it was a book about Iceland, a volume on classical music, or a fantasy novel, my endless wanderlust was well satiated. I’ve carried these spaces with me into adulthood, and the stories from within have directly impacted my songwriting.”
In 2022, Laufey founded the Laufey Book Club to foster a global community of readers. Her first picture book, Mei Mei The Bunny, is a New York Times Bestseller and available now from Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House Children’s Books.
Last year, Laufey partnered with four U.S. public library systems—Boston Public Library, Fulton County (Ga.) Library, LA County Library, and Phoenix Public Library, as well as a library system in Iceland—to launch limited edition Laufey Book Club collaborative library cards on her annual fan activation in August, A Very Laufey Day, and ahead of 2025’s Library Card Sign-up Month. Library card sign-ups broke records at most of the library systems the day the cards launched.
“I’m honored to be this year’s Library Card Sign Up Month honorary chair, and especially thrilled to be expanding the Laufey Book Club library card program so that more people have one more reason to experience everything their local library has to offer,” said Laufey.
Become a Supporter
Past honorary chairs for Library Card Sign-up Month have included Idina Menzel and Cara Mentzel, Stan Lee, Dwayne Wade, Candace Parker, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
While September is Library Card Sign-up Month, you can sign up for one at your library year-round. Get yours today!
