Celebrate School Library Month This April and Celebrate You!
I love April. I love it because the weather (finally) starts to feel like summer is around the corner. Flowers are blooming, and I get my garden ready to plan. Plus, I finally can spend sunny evenings with a great book outside on the deck instead of huddled under a blanket in the living room! But, do you know why else I love April? It’s OUR month! April is School Library Month and the month when school librarians are celebrated and recognized for the fabulous things they do. Last year, in 2025, we celebrated 40 years of celebrating school libraries with ALA and AASL. This year, we get to celebrate 41!
So, whether you are a first year school librarian or a 41st year school librarian – cheers to you as we get ready to celebrate OUR month!
A few years ago, I created a top ten list for why we should celebrate school librarians. This year, I’m mixing it up a little and sharing a top ten series of things that if they happened would make us thrilled to no end. This is a somewhat silly and somewhat “wow, that would be nice” list – so take it for what it is.
Away we go –
10 ways someone could thrill you during School Library Month as a librarian:
10. Return overdue books. And by that, I mean all the overdue books. Even the one a dog took a bite out of or that was lost in the back of a desk. Trust me, your school librarian will be happy to see it.
9. Refrain from asking, “Can you Google that for me?” when your librarian offers to help with research. They have a master’s degree and access to databases and would love nothing more to get you on the path to the information you need.
8. Call your librarian by “librarian,” not “the book lady” or “the quiet room guy” or the “person behind the desk.” We’re super proud of the work we do and being a school librarian (or media specialist).
7. Compliment a book display. We spent three days and 25 bucks on that display. Let us know you enjoy it!
6.Refrain from reshelving books yourself. That book will now live in the wrong section for the next year and haunt our dreams. (If you know, you know!)
5. Maybe bring a coffee before asking us to find “that one book, it had a red cover, I think the title started with a T… or maybe an M.” Seriously though, we are happy to help you find that book – coffee or no coffee!
4. Acknowledge that the school librarian is also the de facto IT support, guidance counselor, hall monitor, Capri Sun opener, and crosswalk supervisor. We do it all (and then some!).
3. Let us talk about books. We do like to do that and always appreciate an audience.
2. Advocate for our budget. Nothing says “I appreciate you” like showing up to the school board meeting and saying “please fund the library.”
1. Send a kid to the library who thinks they don’t like reading. Watch what happens. We’ll work our magic.
I hope you enjoyed this somewhat humorous (with that kernel of truth) top ten list.
Celebrate School Library Month
Lastly, I want to remind you that there are all kinds of ways to celebrate National School Library Month.
Be sure to check out the ALA webpage devoted to School Library Month. On that page, you’ll find:
- Ways to decorate and display, including printable items
- Ideas for hosting special events during April.
- Social Media ideas
- Videos by School Library Month Ambassadors (lots of them)
- Ways to engage others in School Library Month
- Proclamations for school boards and government….and more.
Happy School Library Month 2026!
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