Millions of people visit their libraries every week—and for good reason. During National Library Week, April 19–25, 2026, take time to discover what brings you joy at your library.
Mychal Threets is an award-winning librarian, mental health advocate, and the library’s number one fan (according to himself, admittedly). He was raised in his local library as a home-school kid and got his first library card at the age of five.
Threets considers it an honor to the library people who raised him that he is a recipient of the 2024 I Love My Librarian Award from the American Library Association, one of School Library Journal’s 2024 Movers and Shakers, one of TIME Magazine’s 2024 Next Generation Leaders, a 2024 winner of The Webby Awards for social impact, and one of the 2025 TIME Magazine’s inaugural list of 100 creators. He is the author of I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy, published by Random House Children’s Books and illustrated by Lorraine Nam. He is proud to be Resident Librarian for PBS and PBS Kids, and he will never believe that he serves as the host of the revival of Reading Rainbow.
Monday, April 20
The right to read is under attack in communities across the U.S. in the form of book bans. On Right to Read Day, take the time to protect, defend, and celebrate your freedom to read.
On April 20, ALA will also release its annual State of America’s Libraries Report, including the list of Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2025.
#RightToReadDay
Tuesday, April 21
National Library Workers Day is a time to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers across the country. Give a shout out to the amazing people who power our libraries!
#NLWD26
Wednesday, April 22
Outside the library’s walls, librarians are meeting their patrons where they are. Whether it’s a bookmobile stop at the local elementary school, services provided to community homes, or library pop-ups at community gatherings, these services are essential to the community. National Library Outreach Day celebrates the library professionals who make it happen.
#LibraryOutreachDay
Thursday, April 23
Library advocates across the country stand united on Take Action for Libraries Day, an annual day of action during National Library Week! With federal library funding hanging in the balance, our elected officials need to hear from library supporters more than ever.
#ForOurLibraries
Be sure to follow your library on social media so you don’t miss out on all they have to offer! Post one of our available graphics to your social media account and tell the world how you find joy at the library with the hashtag #NationalLibraryWeek.
Please visit ALA's National Library Week Toolkit for more free tools to celebrate in your local community.
I Love Libraries
Facebook @ILoveLibraries
Instagram: @ilovelibrariesala
Bluesky: @ilovelibraries
American Library Association
Instagram: @americanlibraryassociation
Facebook: @AmericanLibraryAssociation
Bluesky: @amlibraryassoc
Threads: @americanlibraryassociation
Bring library joy to your walls with the official National Library Week poster! This poster features art by Lorraine Nam, illustrator of the new children’s book I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy by Mychal Threets.
The library’s biggest fan is now on an ALA READ® poster! Join National Library Week honoraroy chair Mychal Threets and Grover from The Monster at the End of This Book by encouraging people of all ages to read with this new poster.
Show the world that you love libraries with an array of apparel, tote bags, magnets, and more, all available through LibraryGiftShop.org! Sales support the American Library Association’s critical work in promoting the value of libraries.
In the mid-1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less on books and more on radios, televisions and musical instruments. Concerned that Americans were reading less, the ALA and the American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit citizens organization called the National Book Committee in 1954. The committee’s goals were ambitious. They ranged from “encouraging people to read in their increasing leisure time” to “improving incomes and health” and “developing strong and happy family life.”
In 1957, the committee developed a plan for National Library Week based on the idea that once people were motivated to read, they would support and use libraries. With the cooperation of ALA and with help from the Advertising Council, the first National Library Week was observed in 1958 with the theme “Wake Up and Read!” The 2018 celebration marked the 60th anniversary of the first event.
Read more about the history of National Library Week in American Libraries Magazine.
