Take Your Child to the Library Day 2024 Was a Celebration of Literacy and Family Fun
Here are a few highlights
On the first Saturday of February every year, many libraries across the United States celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day. The celebration includes free activities, games, and reading activities for families. While the festivities vary by library, there are always plenty of free fun activities for the whole family, from storytimes to magicians. TYCLD is not only a chance for children to have fun but also an opportunity for families to learn more about the library.
EveryLibrary has partnered with Take Your Child to the Library Day as a national organizational partner. This annual celebration, supported by the Connecticut Library Consortium, is a free and family-friendly event encouraging families to visit their local library. This partnership aims to spread the word about TYCLD and encourage libraries and families to participate.
This year, the event occurred on Saturday, February 3, and libraries nationwide organized special programs. In Lawton, OK, for example, around 200 kids participated in crafts, themed stories, and snacks. In Tangipahoa Parish, IN, each branch hosted games, crafts, snacks, and fun activities.
In Lubbock, TX, all the library branches participated and hosted a themed library scavenger hunt and storytimes, crafts, and book giveaways. In Pittsfield, MA, the library hosted a bookmark pop-up crafts session and a book giveaway. Families could decorate a Mardi Gras mask in St John’s Parish, LA, and do a LEGO challenge. Families in Faulkner County, AR, received giveaways such as dental floss, bookmarks, paint sets, stickers, and more.
Young Adult Librarian of the blog YA Book Nerd shared that she had hosted a Frozen storytime, “We read some stories, danced to Do You Want to Build a Snowman with bubbles, waved scarved during our sing-along to Let It Go, and created a wand craft. We handed out a sticker and bubbles to go. The room was packed and everyone seemed to have fun,” she wrote.
Monroe Community College in New York even got in on the day, saying, “Students are welcome to bring their children to the MCC Libraries. Our family-friendly study rooms include kid-sized furniture, computers, whiteboards, & children’s books.”
Take Your Child to the Library Day is an excellent opportunity for families to bond and learn while having fun. With libraries across the United States organizing various activities, games, and reading activities, there is something for everyone. If you missed the fun this year, mark your calendar for the first Saturday in February 2025. To learn more about TYCLD and events near you, please visit takeyourchildtothelibrary.org.
