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!
Libraries are always growing by adding new collections, programs, and services designed to help everyone in the community reach their personal goals, so during Library Card Sign-up Month, we’re challenging you to try something new at your library and share your experience with us.
Whether it’s exploring a new service, picking up a fresh skill, or even getting your very first library card, we want to hear about it. And because we’re all about having fun, everyone who participates will be entered into a random drawing for some great prizes!
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.
Join the Library Fandom as a Comic Creator!
It’s no secret that comics and graphic novels open a gateway to reading for many. In fact, libraries have been bolstering their comic collections for years, from popular new series to rare early editions. But did you know that when it comes to creating comics there is…more than meets the eye? From writing a compelling story, to drawing and coloring, to designing a layout that guides readers through the plot, visual storytelling takes real skills that anyone can learn. Every creator’s journey starts somewhere – make your library part of your origin story!
A new library adventure is waiting to be told, and we have tools to help you tell it! Design your own comic book covers from scratch with exciting library-themed or blank templates, or practice and hone the fundamentals of coloring with free TRANSFORMERS cover art pages, originally drawn by TRANSFORMERS comic creator Daniel Warren Johnson and shared courtesy of Hasbro and Skybound Entertainment. Print them out or plug them into your favorite design software and get creating!
Cover sizes available as both 8.5x11" and 6.625x10.25" (standard comic book size). Looking for comic panel pages? Check out these free templates from dadsworksheets.com.
Comic Book Cover Templates
PDF Download
8.5x11" | 6.625x10.25"
Canva Templates
8.5x11" | 6.625x10.25"
PDF Download
8.5x11" | 6.625x10.25"
Canva Templates
8.5x11" | 6.625x10.25"
PDF Download
8.5x11" | 6.625x10.25"
Canva Templates
8.5x11" | 6.625x10.25"
TRANSFORMERS Coloring Sheets
Art by Daniel Warren Johnson, courtesy of Hasbro and Skybound Entertainment
Spread the word!
Share these graphics featuring TRANSFORMERS characters Optimus Prime, Arcee, and Beachcomber all month long on social media and let everyone in your community know that September is Library Card Sign-up month! (Click to download)
Find more sizes in ALA's Library Card Sign-up Month toolkit!
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.
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.
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