United States: National Library Week represents a yearly tribute to demonstrate how libraries, alongside their professional members, strengthen neighborhoods through life-changing activities.
Celebrating Libraries That Change Lives
The American Library Association, together with numerous libraries in the USA, organizes this annual observance that takes place during the second full week of April.
The designated dates for National Library Week fall between April 6 and April 12, 2025.
The celebration chooses different themes for each annual occurrence. The current theme, titled “Drawn to the Library,” aims to lure local populations into visiting the library spaces, as cmich.edu reported.
Defending the Right to Read
Right to Read Day takes place on Monday, April 7, 2025, as one of the annual events during National Library Week.
Right to Read Day unites readers together with advocates and library fans to advocate for the freedom to read while honoring its defense.
In honor of National Library Week, dive into a book featuring stories and characters who love and value libraries as much as we do! pic.twitter.com/pt5nAHeQFb
— S&S EducationLibrary (@SSEdLib) April 9, 2025
All library workers receive recognition on Tuesday, April 8, as National Library Workers Day from library staff alongside administrators and users and Friends group members.
National Library Outreach Day falls on Wednesday, April 9, as it honors outreach efforts in libraries alongside professionals who provide services to their patrons at their preferred locations.
The advocacy day for libraries happens on Thursday, April 10, when supporters unite to defend libraries.
A minimum of 1916 marks the first recorded history of state or local library weeks, beginning with Library Week in Toledo, Ohio.
The public relations body of the American Library Association proposed establishing a National Library Week after its Detroit convention of 1922.
People did not embrace this concept until 36 years after its initial proposal. Research in the middle of the 1950s demonstrated that Americans were reducing book spending to buy radios and more televisions and musical instruments, as cmich.edu reported.
📚Happy National Library Week! We're grateful to libraries and librarians everywhere for all they do to support learning, equity, and access in their communities—and for their vital role in making 75% of UMP frontlist Open Access and available to all. pic.twitter.com/P6n8Om5dIw
— University of Michigan Press (@UofMPress) April 8, 2025
The National Book Committee emerged as a nonprofit citizen organization through the joint efforts of the American Library Association and the American Book Publishers to address declining American reading habits.
The National Book Committee created the National Library Week concept to generate reading motivation and library backing from the public.
The inaugural National Library Week took place in 1958 under “Wake Up and Read” through collaboration between the American Library Association and assistance from the Advertising Council.
Since their origins, libraries have maintained their dedication to literacy development, which is combined with freedom of thought protection and fair access to information for their community members.
Users can access research assistance through both virtual channels (email and chat) and direct one-on-one sessions after making a request to the staff at the Libraries.