When is National Library Week?
National Library Week 2027
Sun, Apr 11, 2027 – Sat, Apr 17, 2027
A Sunday-to-Saturday week in April chosen by the American Library Association (the dates shown are ALA's published schedule). That's in 176 days.
until National Library Week begins, in your time zone
National Library Week is the American Library Association's yearly celebration of libraries and the people who work in them. Since 1958 it has encouraged Americans to use their school, public, academic and special libraries and to support them.
About National Library Week
National Library Week celebrates what libraries do for their communities, from lending books and offering internet access to running children's programs and helping people find jobs and information. The American Library Association (ALA) sponsors the week, and libraries of every kind take part, including school, public, academic and special libraries. Each year has a theme and an honorary chair; for 2026 the theme was "Find Your Joy" and the honorary chair was Mychal Threets.
The week grew out of a worry in the mid-1950s that Americans were spending more on radios, televisions and musical instruments and less on books. In 1954 the ALA and the American Book Publishers set up a nonprofit group called the National Book Committee. In 1957 the committee planned a library week on the idea that people who were motivated to read would also use and support libraries. With help from the Advertising Council, the first National Library Week took place in 1958 under the slogan "Wake Up and Read!" When the National Book Committee disbanded in 1974, the ALA took over full sponsorship.
The ALA sets the dates each year, so the week does not follow a fixed weekday rule. It fell on April 6 to 12 in 2025 and April 19 to 25 in 2026, and the ALA has announced April 11 to 17 for 2027 and April 23 to 29 for 2028. Several related days fall inside it, including National Library Workers Day on the Tuesday and National Library Outreach Day, formerly National Bookmobile Day, on the Wednesday. The ALA also uses the week to release its State of America's Libraries report.
Sources: American Library Association: National Library Week, American Library Association: National Library Week History, ALA News: Telgemeier, McCloud chosen as National Library Week honorary chairs (2025 dates). How we check dates.
How to mark National Library Week
- Visit your local library and sign up for a card, or renew one that has expired.
- Thank a librarian or library worker in person, by note or on social media.
- Try a library service you haven't used, such as e-books, museum passes, language courses or a seed library.
- Attend a library program or bring a child to story time.
- Find out who funds your local library and contact elected officials to share why it matters to you.
- Donate gently used books to a Friends of the Library sale if your branch accepts them.
National Library Week dates
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Sun, Apr 6 – Sat, Apr 12 |
| 2026 | Sun, Apr 19 – Sat, Apr 25 |
| 2027 | Sun, Apr 11 – Sat, Apr 17 |
| 2028 | Sun, Apr 23 – Sat, Apr 29 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is National Library Week 2027?
National Library Week 2027 is Sun, Apr 11, 2027 – Sat, Apr 17, 2027. It falls on a Sunday-to-Saturday week in April chosen by the American Library Association (the dates shown are ALA's published schedule). In 2028, it is on Sunday, April 23, 2028.
Who started National Library Week?
The National Book Committee, formed by the American Library Association and the American Book Publishers, launched it in 1958. The ALA has run it on its own since 1974.
Why do the dates of National Library Week change?
The American Library Association picks a week in April each year rather than following a fixed calendar rule, so it can land anywhere from early to late April.
Is National Library Week a public holiday?
No. National Library Week is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.