Library Related Celebrations and Events

The American Library Association's offices and divisions sponsor a variety of library promotions throughout the year that libraries of all types all across the country can get involved with to promote libraries and create awareness of library issues. The oldest of these events is National Library Week.

Children’s Book Week, established in 1919, is a celebration of books and the connection they bring. This beloved program continues to grow and adapt each year with new resources and ideas for joining in.

Sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), since 1967, the annual celebrations of International Literacy Day (ILD) have taken place on 8 September around the world to remind policy-makers, practitioners, and the public of the critical importance of literacy for creating more literate, just, peaceful, and sustainable society. 

Launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month is a special occasion that celebrates poets’ integral role in our culture and that poetry matters.

Each year, National Read Across America Day is celebrated on March 2nd, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. The annual event is part of Read Across America, an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association. 

The Washington Center for the Book promotes literacy and a love of books, reading, and libraries. They celebrate Washington’s robust literary heritage and shine a spotlight on the contribution of reading and libraries in strengthening communities and in fostering civic engagement.

The Washington State Zine Contest is an annual competition for residents of all ages, organized by the Washington Center for the Book and Washington State Library, with support from various libraries across the state. Participants create zines (small, self-published booklets) on any topic and submit physical copies for judging in different age categories, including pre-4th grade, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, and adults. Winning entries may be added to a library collection or used for publicity.

Library Comic is an ongoing webcomic strip about a library, created by librarian Gene Ambaum and illustrated by Willow Payne, Pat Coleman, and Chris Hallbeck. The comic is a continuation of the previous webcomic Unshelved, which ran from 2002 to 2016.

Unshelved is a comic strip about a library, created by librarian Gene Ambaum and cartoonist Bill Barnes. It ran from from February 16, 2002 through October 17, 2016, for a total archive of 4552 comic strips, which the website cycles through one day at a time.