8 Ways to Celebrate National Library Lovers Month!

Reading Time: 3 mins 30 secs

It’s February and that means it’s National Library Lovers Month — a time to celebrate the vital role that libraries play in enriching our communities, fostering lifelong learning, and promoting access to information for all. It’s an opportunity for us to express gratitude for the valuable contributions of libraries and the dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to make them vibrant centers of knowledge, culture, and community engagement.

National Library Lovers Month Activities
Here are eight ideas for you and your family to show love for your library this month (and all year round!):

1. Plan Family Library Days
Set aside special days to visit your local library as a family. Let your children (quietly) roam the aisles, discover new books, and peruse the shelves for family-friendly movies to check out. You can also make a plan to all meet at a comfortable table to read your selections together before heading home.

2. Make Friends With a Librarian
Librarians can be incredible resources to expand your reading horizons. Make friends with your local librarians to learn about new finds and their recommendations based on your family’s interests. They can also give you the inside scoop on storytime sessions, craft workshops, and other special events.

3. Install a Little Free Library at Home
Adding a Little Free Library in your front yard is a great way to share your love of reading with your community. With the premise of Take a Book. Share a Book. millions of books are exchanged each year in little libraries around the world, increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds. You can read more about the Little Free Library movement in The Little Free Library by Margaret Aldrich. Make sure to check your local zoning laws before getting started!

4. Volunteer at Your Local Library
Give back to your local library by volunteering as a family. Ask the librarian how you and your family can help. Whether learning how to organize books, interacting with diverse individuals, or navigating library resources, volunteering provides hands-on learning experiences for the whole family. Sharing your time and efforts to help enhance the library experience for everyone is a win for you and your community.

5. Organize a Book Swap with Friends
Invite friends and their children over for a book swap party where everyone brings gently used books to exchange. Not only does this promote recycling and sharing, but it also introduces children to new stories and authors they may have yet to discover.

6. Write “Love Notes” About Your Favorite Books
A fun way to share your love of books is to write little “love notes” about your favorites and tuck them into the pages before returning to the library. In your note, talk about why you love that particular book, a part of the story, or the author. Imagine the surprise and delight the next reader will experience when they discover your thoughtful note.

7. Create a Home Library Corner or Nook
Transform a corner of your home into a cozy reading nook where you and your children can snuggle up with a good book. Add soft pillows and blankets, a good reading light, and plenty of shelves or baskets filled with family favorites. And don’t forget to outline a list of “house library rules” so that everyone can enjoy their reading time undisturbed just as they would at the library.

8. Start a Family Reading Challenge
Challenge your family to a reading marathon by setting individual or collective reading goals for the month. If you need help deciding on themes, special topics, or authors visit your local library for recommendations from the librarians. Keep track of progress on a colorful chart or bulletin board, and celebrate milestones with rewards like a trip to the library for new books or first pick for family movie night.