National Library Card Signup Month

Celebrate National Library Card Sign-Up Month! September is a special time of year for libraries and book lovers across the nation. It’s National Library Card Sign-Up Month, an event initiated by the American Library Association (ALA) and the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science back in 1987. The aim is simple yet profound: to encourage everyone, especially children, to sign up for a library card. This annual event coincides with the start of the school year, making it the perfect opportunity to equip students with a tool that opens the door to a world of knowledge and adventure. A Brief History of National Library Card Sign-Up Month The American Library Association launched National Library Card Sign-Up Month in 1987. The goal was to ensure that every child had the most important school supply of all—a library card. Since then, libraries across the United States have participated in this initiative, promoting the value of library cards and the myriad resources and services libraries offer. Each year, the ALA teams up with a celebrity or popular character to serve as the Honorary Chair of National Library Card Sign-Up Month. These ambassadors help spread the word about the benefits of library cards and encourage more people to visit their local libraries.