Do you remember that feeling of a cozy welcome when you went to the library as a child? The excitement of finding some new adventure around the next stack of books?
The feeling of success when you finally understood the Dewey Decimal System? Or was it the smell of the print on the pages of the books that kept you coming back?
These memories are something that not many children are being introduced to since almost everything is on the internet. On Take Your Child to The Library Day it’s the perfect opportunity to make sure your child can close their eyes and conjure these memories as well.
Take Your Child To The Library Day Timeline
Brooklyn Public Library First Offers Children’s Services
Brooklyn Public Library begins providing library services for children, laying groundwork for later dedicated children’s rooms and programs that welcome young patrons and their families.
Anne Carroll Moore Leads Children’s Services at New York Public Library
Anne Carroll Moore becomes the first Supervisor of Work with Children at the New York Public Library, shaping national standards for child-centered spaces, open shelves, and storytelling.
ALA Establishes the Newbery Medal for Children’s Books
The American Library Association creates the Newbery Medal, the first major children’s book award, elevating children’s literature as a core component of public library collections.
Creation of the Caldecott Medal Highlights Picture Books
The American Library Association launches the Caldecott Medal to honor distinguished American picture books for children, reinforcing the importance of visual storytelling in children’s library services.
El día de los niños/El día de los libros Connects Children, Families, and Books
ALSC and REFORMA adopt Día, an annual celebration linking Children’s Day with literacy, emphasizing multicultural family programs in libraries across the United States.
How to Celebrate Take Your Child to The Library Day
Head to the Libray
To celebrate this day, just follow the directions in the title and Take Your Child to The Library! Pack up and take the whole family to explore what your local library has to offer.
Many libraries are right up to speed with technology and have both digital and hard-copy offerings. You may find movies and music offerings as well.
Enjoy Reading Classic Books
You can find books for the youngest in your family in the children’s section which no matter what city or town you are in is sure to have the same beloved authors from your youth.
Fill up on Dr. Seuss, Clifford, Mother Goose and much more! If there is something you don’t find just ask your librarian and they may be able to get it.
Young adults usually have a section to themselves to bridge that transition from children’s storybooks to the longer chapter books. Newer classics like Harry Potter and Twilight will be found here.
Participate in Library Events
If your library is taking part in the celebrations you may find reading groups, storytellers, book sales or other fun events to take part in.
Remember that without your local library to help educate our children, there really isn’t anything to replace it. Give your children the same cozy memories that you were given and celebrate Take Your Child to The Library Day!
History of Take Your Child to The Library Day
Nadine Lipman and Caitlin Augusta are co-chairpersons of the Take Your Child to The Library Day intuitive.
Nadine created the idea to make a fun way to bring community awareness to the library and all the resources and events that are held there throughout the year. The first day was celebrated in 2011 and has grown to include libraries all over the country.
Visitors of the day’s website will be able to learn about ways to celebrate the day, and why it is important to bring the community back to the library.
For years now libraries have faced funding issues and have had to get creative in their fundraising. This is the perfect chance to host events that can elevate the local library in the community’s mind. Some have even gone as far as celebrating a week instead of just a day!
Facts About Take Your Child to the Library Day
Reading to Children Strengthens Brain Development
Neuroscience research using MRI scans has shown that preschool children who are read to frequently at home have stronger activation in brain areas involved in narrative comprehension and visual imagery, even when they are just listening to stories without pictures.
This suggests that shared reading builds neural networks for language, imagination, and later reading skills long before children can read independently.
Early Library Use Is Linked to Better School Readiness
A large U.S. study of low‑income families found that children who were taken regularly to the library and whose parents engaged with library books at home showed higher scores on measures of print knowledge and vocabulary at kindergarten entry, even after controlling for income and parental education.
The researchers concluded that public library use can partially offset early literacy gaps associated with poverty.
Children’s Librarianship Emerged as a Specialization in the Early 1900s
By the early 20th century, American public libraries were hiring dedicated children’s librarians and creating separate children’s rooms with their own collections and programming.
The American Library Association formed a Children’s Librarians’ Section in 1901, helping to professionalize work focused specifically on children’s reading, storytelling, and guidance to age‑appropriate materials.
The First Public Children’s Room Transformed Access for Young Readers
The Brookline Public Library in Massachusetts is widely recognized as having opened the first separate children’s room in a U.S. public library in 1890, with open shelves where children could browse and choose their own books.
This model—child‑sized furniture, dedicated staff, and open access to shelves—influenced children’s departments across the country and marked a shift from viewing libraries as adult‑only spaces.
Storytime Programs Teach More Than Just a Love of Books
Evaluation of public library storytimes across multiple U.S. systems has found that when librarians intentionally model practices like asking open‑ended questions, pointing out print, and singing rhymes, parents are more likely to repeat those behaviors at home.
These “early literacy–rich” storytimes significantly increase children’s use of new vocabulary and narrative skills compared with less structured read‑alouds.
Public Libraries Help Bridge the Digital Divide for Families
In the United States, more than 90% of public libraries offer public internet access and Wi‑Fi, and a large majority lend devices or provide access to online homework help and educational databases.
For children in households without reliable broadband or computers, the library is often their primary gateway to digital learning resources, including e‑books, research tools, and online tutoring platforms.
Library Visits Are Strongly Associated With Children’s Reading Frequency
International data from the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) show that 15‑year‑olds who report visiting a library at least once a month are more likely to say they read for pleasure and tend to achieve higher reading scores than peers who rarely or never go.
The association holds even after accounting for socioeconomic background, underscoring libraries’ role in cultivating voluntary reading.
