September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a national campaign to emphasize the importance of library cards to a child’s education and to combat illiteracy. The campaign first started in 1987 as a response to then Secretary of Education, William Bennett, who stated: “Let’s have a campaign … Every child should obtain a library card and use it.”
The American Library Association (ALA) took Secretary Bennett’s words seriously and teamed up with the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) to start the campaign, with a grant of $85,000 from the Reader’s Digest Foundation.[1] A telegram was sent to Secretary Bennett saying, “We accept your challenge.”[2]
The first theme was “The Best Gift You’ll Ever Give Your Child … A Library Card.” Because of the Reader’s Digest grant, Library Card Sign-up Month was advertised on more than 500 TV and radio stations, along with 200 magazines.[3] Packets of information and ideas were sent out to libraries to help the campaign gain momentum and to inspire librarians. Ideas included circulating a letter from the librarian, awards and celebrations, PTA recruitment, and joint sponsors. In a TipKit was a letter from ALA President Margaret Chisholm and Chairman of the NCLIS Jerald Newman where they highlighted local efforts:
“Momentum is already growing. Enclosed you’ll find many excellent ideas from libraries around the country such as the First Grade Round Up sponsored by the Kent County Library in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In California the Library Services Board has passed a resolution calling for support of the campaign by all California public libraries and school districts.
The Milwaukee Public Library will launch its campaign during Children’s Book Week by inviting every first grade class to visit the library and presenting each child with a “fine free” coupon.”[4]
October 14 was the kick-off celebration for the campaign, held on the Mall in Washington, D.C., with 500 children in attendance. The event included remarks from Chisholm, Newman, and Bennett, along with story and craft time, and free pizza.[5]
The following year, September was declared Library Card Sign-up Month.[6] Since then, thousands of public libraries and schools have participated every fall, stressing the importance of obtaining a library card as a child’s most important school supply.
For more information about Library Card Sign-up Month 2026, visit I Love Libraries.
Sources
[1] Fact Sheet, 1987, Subject Files, 1941-1948, 1973-1979, 1984-2013, Record Series 12/1/6, Box 18, Folder: Press Memos, 1987, American Library Association Archives at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
[2] “Library Card Campaign Launched in Year of the Reader” by Linda Wallace, Record Series 12/1/6, Box 18, Folder: Press Memos, 1987, American Library Association Archives at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
[3] Library Card Campaign Highlights, Midwinter Meeting 1988, Subject Files, 1941-1948, 1973-1979, 1984-2013, Record Series 12/1/6, Box 18, Folder: Highlights – Midwinter Meeting, 1988, American Library Association Archives at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
[4] TipKit, 1987, Subject Files, 1941-1948, 1973-1979, 1984-2013, Record Series 12/1/6, Box 18, Folder: Promotional Materials, 1988, American Library Association Archives at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
[5] Library Card Campaign Highlights, Midwinter Meeting 1988, Subject Files, 1941-1948, 1973-1979, 1984-2013, Record Series 12/1/6, Box 18, Folder: Highlights – Midwinter Meeting, 1988, American Library Association Archives at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
[6] 1988, About ALA, http://www.ala.org/aboutala/1988, accessed August 24, 2015.
