Libraries Remember Day
September 11
About Libraries Remember Day
Libraries Remember Day takes place every year on 11 September. It marks the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and honours the people who died, while celebrating the role public libraries play in upholding a free and open society. The observance invites libraries and their communities to pause, reflect, and reaffirm the values of knowledge, access, and tolerance.
What is Libraries Remember Day?
Libraries Remember Day is an annual observance held on 11 September that connects two ideas: remembrance of the victims of the 9/11 attacks and recognition of public libraries as institutions that stand against terrorism, hatred, and intolerance. The day was conceived by Bill Erbes, an assistant director at the Bensenville Community Public Library in Illinois, who saw libraries as fitting places to mark the anniversary because of what they represent: learning, free access to information, the preservation of heritage, and openness to new ideas. It is observed chiefly in the United States, though its themes resonate with libraries everywhere.
When is Libraries Remember Day?
Libraries Remember Day falls on Friday, 11 September 2026. The date is fixed and never changes, because it is tied directly to the anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks. Each year the observance lands on whichever weekday 11 September happens to be, but the date itself remains constant.
Why Libraries Remember Day Matters
The attacks of 11 September 2001 killed nearly 3,000 people across New York, the Pentagon in Virginia, and a field in Pennsylvania. Libraries Remember Day gives communities a quiet, reflective way to honour those losses while reaffirming the principles that public libraries embody. A library is a place where anyone, regardless of background or means, can access information freely, which makes it a natural symbol of the open society that terrorism seeks to undermine.
Public libraries in the United States serve well over a billion in-person visits each year and lend hundreds of millions of items, acting as community anchors during moments of grief and recovery. In the aftermath of 9/11, many libraries became gathering points where people sought news, comfort, and connection. Marking this day reminds us that the free flow of knowledge is itself a form of resilience.
How to Get Involved in Libraries Remember Day
There are many meaningful ways for libraries, staff, and the public to take part in the day:
- Visit your local library – Simply turning up and using the space honours what libraries stand for. Many branches plan special programming on 11 September, so check ahead for events.
- Hold a moment of remembrance – Libraries can organise a short ceremony or a quiet moment of reflection for staff and visitors to remember those who lost their lives in 2001.
- Set up a commemorative display – Curate books, photographs, and archival materials about 9/11, its history, and the recovery effort to help patrons learn and reflect.
- Stay open in solidarity – The originating library in Bensenville famously kept its doors open from midnight to midnight on 11 September. Some libraries mark the day with extended hours or special access.
- Thank library staff – Recognise the librarians and support workers who keep these institutions running and who often serve as first responders to a community’s information needs.
- Run a reading or storytelling session – Host an event exploring themes of resilience, freedom, and community, helping younger visitors understand the day’s significance.
- Support intellectual freedom – Use the day to champion free access to information by promoting library resources, opposing censorship, and encouraging lifelong learning.
- Share the story online – Spread awareness of the observance on social media so that more libraries and patrons can take part in future years.
History of Libraries Remember Day
The idea for Libraries Remember Day grew out of the response of one institution to the events of 11 September 2001. Bill Erbes, an assistant director at the Bensenville Community Public Library in Illinois, championed the notion that libraries were uniquely placed to mark the anniversary. For several years, the Bensenville library remained open for the entire day, from midnight to midnight, holding ceremonies and activities so that members of the community had a place to gather, remember, and reflect.
The reasoning was rooted in what a library represents. Where the attacks sought to spread fear and division, a library offers the opposite: free access to knowledge, a celebration of diverse ideas, the preservation of heritage, and hope for the future. Erbes and his colleagues saw the library as a quiet but powerful answer to terrorism, and the practice of keeping the doors open on 11 September became a way of making that statement year after year.
Over time the observance spread beyond a single library in Illinois and was taken up more widely across the United States, appearing on calendars of awareness days and prompting branches around the country to plan their own remembrances. While it has never become a federal or official holiday, it endures as a grassroots tradition embraced by the library community and the people it serves.
Noteworthy Facts About Libraries Remember Day
- The observance was conceived by Bill Erbes, an assistant director at the Bensenville Community Public Library in Illinois.
- The Bensenville library marked the day by staying open continuously from midnight to midnight on 11 September.
- The day deliberately pairs remembrance of the 9/11 victims with celebration of libraries as defenders of a free society.
- It is observed primarily in the United States but its themes of knowledge and openness apply to libraries worldwide.
- Unlike many awareness days, it is not commercial or promotional, focusing instead on reflection, community, and the value of free access to information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Libraries Remember Day?
It is an annual observance on 11 September that honours the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks while celebrating public libraries as institutions that stand for knowledge, free access to information, and an open society.
When is Libraries Remember Day in 2026?
Libraries Remember Day is on Friday, 11 September 2026. The date is fixed every year because it marks the anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks.
Who started Libraries Remember Day?
The day was conceived by Bill Erbes, an assistant director at the Bensenville Community Public Library in Illinois, who saw libraries as fitting places to mark the anniversary of 9/11. His library kept its doors open from midnight to midnight to give the community a place to remember and reflect.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing Libraries Remember Day with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtags #LibrariesRememberDay and #LibrariesRememberDay2026 on social media. The more people who know about Libraries Remember Day, the bigger the impact.
Related Awareness Days
- National Library Week – A week-long celebration of libraries and the people who make them run, championing the same values of free access and community.
- National Book Lovers Day – A day for readers everywhere to celebrate the books and the libraries that bring them together.
- Paperback Book Day – Honouring the format that made reading accessible to millions and a natural companion to any library observance.
Links
2026 Awareness Days Wall Planner
Every key awareness day at a glance. Perfect for offices, staff rooms, and team planning.
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