If you’re like us over here at I Love Libraries, you’ve been engrossed in the fifth—and final—season of “Stranger Things.” Throughout the course of its run, the Netflix series has touched on so much that we geek out over: Dungeons and Dragons, arcades and video games, horror, science fiction, comic books, coming-of-age tales, and incredible amounts of 1980s nostalgia.
We were especially jazzed to see a nod to the American Library Association (ALA) this season, with the appearance of an ALA Celebrity READ® poster. (Hat tip to Instagram user and school librarian Tanya Hudson for capturing it.)
In episode 3, a David Bowie READ poster appears in the hallways of Hawkins High School, right behind Lucas (played by Caleb McLaughlin) as he speaks with his sister Erica (played by Priah Ferguson). Don’t worry—I Love Libraries is a spoiler-free zone, so we won’t reveal what they’re discussing. It is exciting and vital, though!
What are READ posters?
Some of the world’s best-known faces have lent their support over the past 40 years to the simple but powerful message—READ—on ALA’s prestigious line of posters.
The READ campaign conveys the pleasure and importance of reading by capturing celebrities with their favorite books. Proceeds from the posters support the mission of ALA.
The first celebrity READ poster appeared in 1985. Since then, hundreds of stars have lent their support, including Denzel Washington, Harrison Ford, Ethan and Maya Hawke, Sarah Jessica Parker, Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, Morgan Freeman, Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Daniel Radcliffe, Paul Newman, George Burns, Hugh Jackman, Channing Tatum, and John Cena.
The luminaries aren’t limited to TV and movie stars.
Sports figures like basketball legends Shaquille O’Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and boxer Muhammad Ali; musicians Taylor Swift, R.E.M., Sting, Dolly Parton, Common, and Yo-Yo Ma; and fashion guru Tim Gunn, TV host Rachael Ray, Microsoft visionary and philanthropist Bill Gates, and world-renowned academic Stephen Hawking have also appeared on the posters.
Where can I find them?
Sadly, some iconic READ posters (like the Bowie poster) are long out-of-print. However, so many more are still available for purchase at the ALA Store, including our latest poster featuring the new host of “Reading Rainbow,” Mychal Threets!
You can also browse a fascinating survey of READ posters throughout history at Lit Hub. It’s an inspiring trip down memory lane.
Have you seen a Celebrity READ poster out in the wild? We want to know all about it! Send a photo and details to pmorehart@ala.org, and we’ll feature it here and on our social media. Happy hunting!
How you can support libraries
With library funding being gutted and censorship on the rise, supporting libraries is more critical than ever. If you’re looking for a way to help, we urge you to become a Supporter of the American Library Association by donating.
At the American Library Association, we are here to protect libraries — today and for generations to come. What does your donation do? It helps a neighbor gain skills to start a business. It helps a child discover themselves through books and programs. And it helps keep libraries strong, open, and free for everyone.
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