When is National Book Lovers Day?
National Book Lovers Day 2027 is on Monday
Monday, August 9, 2027
August 9 every year. That's in 309 days.
until National Book Lovers Day begins, in your time zone
National Book Lovers Day is an informal day for celebrating reading and the people who love books, with a nudge to set screens aside and pick up something to read. Nobody knows who started it or when.
About National Book Lovers Day
National Book Lovers Day, often shortened to Book Lovers Day, encourages people to spend time with a book, whether that means finishing a novel, rereading an old favorite, browsing the library or talking about books with friends. Libraries, schools, bookstores and reading groups use it for displays, reading challenges and staff recommendations, and readers share what is on their shelves and nightstands.
No founder or founding organization is documented. The day seems to have spread informally through libraries, booksellers and readers rather than from a single campaign, and library posts about it, such as one from the Algonquin Area Public Library District, say plainly that it is unclear when it began. It is an unofficial observance, and it is not tied to a particular author, book or publisher.
August 9 is the date libraries and organizations most often use, from university libraries to philanthropic groups that share reading lists on the day. Some sources mention a second Book Lovers Day on the first Saturday in November, but that date is far less common. The day sits alongside more formal reading observances such as UNESCO's World Book and Copyright Day on April 23 and International Literacy Day on September 8.
Sources: Algonquin Area Public Library District: National Book Lover's Day, Bellevue University Freeman/Lozier Library: National Book Lover's Day, Gates Foundation U.S. Program: Celebrating National Book Lovers Day. How we check dates.
How to mark National Book Lovers Day
- Read for an uninterrupted hour with your phone in another room.
- Visit your public library and get a card if you don't already have one.
- Ask friends for the one book they would save in a fire, and build a reading list from their answers.
- Read aloud to a child, or to an older relative whose eyesight makes reading harder.
- Sort your shelves and donate books you won't reread to a library sale or a neighborhood book exchange.
National Book Lovers Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Saturday, August 9, 2025 |
| 2026 | Sunday, August 9, 2026 |
| 2027 | Monday, August 9, 2027 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, August 9, 2028 |
| 2029 | Thursday, August 9, 2029 |
| 2030 | Friday, August 9, 2030 |
| 2031 | Saturday, August 9, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is National Book Lovers Day 2027?
National Book Lovers Day 2027 is on Monday, August 9, 2027. It falls on August 9 every year. In 2028, it is on Wednesday, August 9, 2028.
Who created National Book Lovers Day?
Nobody knows. No founder or starting year has been documented, and the day appears to have spread informally through libraries, bookstores and readers.
Is there a second Book Lovers Day in November?
Some sources list the first Saturday in November as another Book Lovers Day, but August 9 is the date most commonly used.
Is National Book Lovers Day a public holiday?
No. National Book Lovers Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.