About National Library Week 2026

National Library Week is an annual celebration held across the United States, organised by the American Library Association (ALA). In 2026, it runs from Sunday 19 April to Saturday 25 April, with the theme “Find Your Joy at the Library.” The week highlights the essential role libraries play in communities, championing free access to books, technology, and lifelong learning for all.

What is National Library Week?

National Library Week is a week-long observance that spotlights the value of libraries and the professionals who run them. Sponsored by the ALA since 1958, it encourages people of all ages to visit their local library, explore its resources, and advocate for continued public funding. The week also serves as a platform for addressing challenges facing libraries, from budget cuts to book challenges, while celebrating the millions of Americans who rely on library services every day.

When is National Library Week?

National Library Week 2026 takes place from Sunday 19 April to Saturday 25 April. The observance falls in April each year, though the exact dates shift because the ALA selects a specific week annually. It is generally held during the second or third full week of April.

The 2026 Theme: Find Your Joy at the Library

Each year the ALA selects a theme to anchor the week’s programming. For 2026, the theme is “Find Your Joy at the Library,” an invitation for people of all backgrounds to explore what sparks curiosity, comfort, and connection at their local branch. The honorary chair is Mychal Threets, an award-winning librarian, mental health advocate, and host of the PBS Reading Rainbow revival. Threets, who received the 2024 I Love My Librarian Award, is also the author of I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy.

Special Days During National Library Week 2026

The week features several dedicated days, each spotlighting a different facet of library life:

• Right to Read Day (Monday 20 April) — A day for readers, advocates, and library supporters to take action in defence of intellectual freedom and the right to access books free from censorship.
• National Library Workers Day (Tuesday 21 April) — First celebrated in 2004, this day recognises the expertise, dedication, and hard work of librarians, library assistants, and all library staff.
• National Library Outreach Day (Wednesday 22 April) — Formerly known as National Bookmobile Day, this celebrates the librarians and programmes that bring resources to communities beyond the library walls, including mobile services, pop-up libraries, and digital outreach.
• Take Action for Libraries Day (Thursday 23 April) — The ALA’s annual advocacy push, rallying library supporters to contact elected officials and champion federal funding for library services.

Why National Library Week Matters

Public libraries in the United States serve more than 170 million registered borrowers and welcome roughly 1.3 billion visits each year. They provide far more than books: free internet access, job-search assistance, children’s literacy programmes, digital skills training, and community meeting spaces. For many communities, the library is the only place offering these services at no cost. National Library Week draws attention to this civic infrastructure and reminds policymakers that sustained investment in libraries is an investment in education, equity, and economic opportunity.

The week is also a response to growing challenges. Book challenges and attempts to remove titles from library shelves reached record levels in recent years, making Right to Read Day particularly relevant. By rallying public support, National Library Week strengthens the case for libraries as cornerstones of democratic society.

How to Get Involved in National Library Week

There are plenty of ways to mark the week, whether you are a regular library visitor or have not stepped inside one in years:

• Visit your local library — Browse the shelves, attend a storytime, or simply spend an afternoon reading in a quiet space. If you do not already have a library card, this is the perfect week to sign up for one.
• Attend a library event — Many branches host author talks, book clubs, craft workshops, coding classes, and film screenings during the week. Check your library’s events calendar for what is on offer.
• Thank a library worker — National Library Workers Day on Tuesday 21 April is the ideal moment to show appreciation. A handwritten note, a social media shout-out, or a word of thanks at the desk goes a long way.
• Advocate for library funding — On Take Action for Libraries Day (Thursday 23 April), contact your local and national representatives to voice support for library budgets. The ALA provides templates and toolkits to make this easy.
• Share on social media — Post about your favourite library memory, a book that changed your life, or a programme that helped you. Use the hashtags #NationalLibraryWeek and #FindYourJoy to join the conversation.
• Enter the “Show Us Your Library Joy” campaign — Submit an original creative work (drawing, poem, essay, photo, video, or comic) by 25 April 2026 for a chance to win a $150 gift card from the ALA.
• Donate or volunteer — Friends of the Library groups always welcome donations of books, funds, or time. Volunteering at a book sale or helping with a children’s reading programme is a tangible way to give back.
• Explore digital resources — Many people do not realise their library card gives them free access to e-books, audiobooks, streaming films, language-learning apps, and online databases. Take the week to discover what is available digitally.

History of National Library Week

The origins of National Library Week stretch back to the mid-1950s, when the American Library Association and the American Book Publishers grew concerned about declining reading rates in the United States. Television was booming, and surveys suggested that Americans were spending more on radios, televisions, and entertainment than on books. In 1954, the two organisations formed a nonprofit called the National Book Committee to tackle the problem.

The committee developed the concept of a dedicated week to promote reading and library use, reasoning that if people could be motivated to read, they would naturally turn to libraries. With support from the Advertising Council, the first National Library Week was held from 16 to 22 March 1958 under the theme “Wake Up and Read!” More than five thousand municipalities took part, making it an immediate national event.

The celebration returned in 1959, after which the ALA Council voted to make it a permanent annual fixture. When the National Book Committee disbanded in 1974, the ALA assumed full sponsorship and moved the observance to April, where it has remained ever since. Over nearly seven decades, the themes have evolved from straightforward reading promotion (“Be All You Can Be — Read!” in the 1980s) to broader messages about community, access, and intellectual freedom (“Connect with Your Library” in 2004, “Libraries = Strong Communities” in 2016). The 2026 theme, “Find Your Joy at the Library,” reflects a growing emphasis on libraries as spaces for personal wellbeing and discovery, not just information retrieval.

Noteworthy Facts About National Library Week

• The first National Library Week in 1958 was held in March, not April. The ALA moved it to April after assuming full sponsorship in 1974.
• There are more than 17,000 public libraries in the United States, including branches — more than the number of McDonald’s restaurants in the country.
• The 2026 honorary chair, Mychal Threets, hosts the PBS revival of Reading Rainbow, one of the longest-running children’s programmes in American television history.
• National Library Workers Day was first observed in 2004, created by the ALA-Allied Professional Association to recognise the contributions of all library staff, not just librarians.
• Libraries in the United States circulate approximately 2 billion items each year, including physical books, e-books, audiobooks, DVDs, and other materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is National Library Week?

National Library Week is an annual celebration sponsored by the American Library Association. Held each April, it promotes library use, highlights the work of library professionals, and advocates for public funding of library services across the United States.

When is National Library Week in 2026?

National Library Week 2026 runs from Sunday 19 April to Saturday 25 April. The 2026 theme is “Find Your Joy at the Library.”

Who organises National Library Week?

The American Library Association (ALA) has been the sole sponsor of National Library Week since 1974. Before that, it was co-organised with the National Book Committee, which helped launch the first observance in 1958.

What is National Library Workers Day?

National Library Workers Day falls on the Tuesday of National Library Week — 21 April in 2026. It was created in 2004 to recognise the contributions of all library staff, including librarians, assistants, technicians, and volunteers.

Spread the Word

Help celebrate National Library Week by sharing it with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtags #NationalLibraryWeek, #NationalLibraryWeek2026, and #FindYourJoy on social media. The more people who know about National Library Week, the stronger the case for well-funded, accessible libraries for everyone.

Related Awareness Days

• International School Library Month — Celebrated throughout October, this month-long observance highlights the vital role school libraries play in education and student literacy worldwide.
• World Book Night — Held on 23 April each year, World Book Night encourages people to share books and spread the joy of reading within their communities.
• Children’s Book Week — The longest-running national literacy initiative in the United States, celebrated annually in May to promote reading among young people.

Links

• Visit the official National Library Week page at ALA.org
• I Love Libraries — National Library Week 2026
• Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com

Upcoming Awareness Days

2 AprNational Burrito Day

2 AprWorld Autism Acceptance Week 2026

2 AprWorld Autism Awareness Day 2026

2 AprNational Peanut Butter and Jelly Day 2026

2 AprInternational Children’s Book Day 2026

2 AprPassover (Pesach) 2026