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One Card, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. September is Library Card Sign-up Month. Logos for American Library Association, Library Champions, and OverDrive

It may be small, but a library card packs a mighty punch.

Borrow museum passes, musical instruments, and even tools from your library’s collection. Take part in engaging programs like book clubs, movie nights, crafting classes, and lectures. Access technology, Wi-Fi, and career resources to support your goals, whether you’re a student, job seeker, entrepreneur, or lifelong learner. It’s one card with endless possibilities!

Tell us how you library for a chance to win!

This September, we want to hear from YOU!

Tell us: How do you library? Do you use your card for book clubs, movie nights, job hunting, storytimes, or something totally unique?

Send us a short voice memo during September (30–60 sec max), and you’ll be entered to win prizes, including a $150 Visa® gift card or a classic READ® poster!

Plus, select recordings may be featured on our How I Library podcast.

One Card. Endless Possibilities. How do you library?

LEARN MORE
Submit a voice memo telling us how you library for a chance to win.

Merch and Downloadables

One Card, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. Sign up for a Library card!

One Card, Endless Possibilities Poster

Display this poster to promote the endless possibilities available at your library during Library Card Sign-up Month and all year long. Also available as a bookmark!

Purchase in the ALA Store

Spread the word!

Share these One Card graphics all month long on social media and let everyone in your community know that September is Library Card Sign-up month! (Click to download)

One Card, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. September is Library Card Sign-up Month. Logos for American Library Association, Library Champions, and OverDrive
One Card, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. September is Library Card Sign-up Month. Logos for American Library Association, Library Champions, and OverDrive
One Card, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. September is Library Card Sign-up Month. Logos for American Library Association, Library Champions, and OverDrive

Find more sizes and graphics in Spanish in ALA’s Library Card Sign-up Month toolkit!

Man wearing a shirt with graphic that reads "One Card, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. Get a Library card!"
Journal with a sticker with graphic that reads "One Card, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. Get a Library card!"
Tote bag with graphic that reads "One Card, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. Get a Library card!"

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.

Purchase from LibraryGiftShop.org
  • Librarians!

Please visit ALA’s Library Card Sign-up Month Toolkit for more free tools and program ideas to celebrate in your local community.

2025's Library Card Sign-up Month is made possible with support from:

Library Champions, Investing in Library Futures
Sora: The student reading app
A photo from the launch of Library Card Sign-Up Month in 1987.

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.

Read the full story from the ALA Archives

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