Celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day
Head to the library with your child to celebrate this international initiative to support childhood literacy
The Connecticut Library Consortium and EveryLibrary are proud partners of Take Your Child to the Library Day (TYCLD), an international initiative devoted to promoting childhood literacy.
Established in 2011, TYCLD is observed on the first Saturday in February. On this day, communities are encouraged to bring their children to the library to celebrate.
This event was initiated by Nadine Lipman, a retired librarian of the Waterford Public Library in Connecticut, with the support of librarian Caitlin Augusta of Stratford Library and children’s writer/illustrator Nancy Elizabeth Wallace.
How Do Children Benefit from Library Programs and Collections?
The TYCLD site explains that libraries are the “ideal place for children to play, discover, make friends, and have fun.” Libraries support childhood literacy, can assist with homework assignments, and usually host after-school activities that help children develop necessary social skills.
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Why Are Early Book Exposure and Reading Important for Children?
There are numerous benefits to exposing children to books at an early age. Reading helps them expand their vocabularies sooner than children not exposed to books, develop critical thinking skills, and cultivate empathy toward their peers.
Reading can build confidence and empower children as their skills grow over time. Libraries provide children free access to multiple forms of media and a safe environment to learn life skills. According to the TYCLD initiative, children who are proficient readers are three times as likely to finish high school.
What Resources Are Available to Libraries Interested in Participating in Take Your Child to the Library Day?
The American Library Association’s (ALA) Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) champions children’s services and provides an invaluable toolkit to advocate for children’s services at your library. TYCLD, in partnership with EveryLibrary, offers a three-part training series for prospective library participants, which is available here. These trainings cover topics relating to communications techniques, advocacy strategies, and coalition-building training.
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What Kinds of TYCLD Activities Do Libraries Offer?
Activity stations are a popular choice for libraries, many offering arts and crafts activities. Craft activities may include making a bookmark, designing or coloring a coloring page, or designing a book jacket for a favorite story.
Adventure circuits may include games and craft activities; some may provide prizes at the end of the circuit to incentivize children’s participation in the event. West Virginia’s Morgantown Public Library System celebrated TYCLD by offering an adventure circuit for children to complete. The circuit helped children learn to familiarize themselves with the library in a fun and engaging way and also helped to alleviate some of the anxieties young patrons might feel if they’ve never met their children’s librarian before. The library partnered with Crumbl Cookies, a local business in Morgantown. Children who completed the circuit received a coupon for a cookie as a consolation prize.
Family reading challenges are another popular activity that may occur throughout the month for TYCLD. A family or household is provided with several titles they need to read by a certain date. Reading might be calculated based on the number of books read or the hours used to read the books. Libraries may also host additional interactive STEM programs during the month to encourage young patrons to witness a real experiment in action. STEM activities may also include nature walks on library grounds or a visit from a special wildlife ambassador.
Story hours are always a popular event at public libraries, but extra storytime programs might be offered during the week of TYCLD. Storytimes offer children an opportunity to enjoy stories with their peers as a librarian or guest reader reads stories to the group. Some story hours include a sing-a-long activity, depending on the ages of the children attending the event.
In 2023, New Hampshire’s Portsmouth Public Library offered all-day activities, including several special storytimes with different guest readers. “Professoressa” Marissa Bognanno, a language teacher for the elementary schools, read a story in Italian. Kari Taylor, a native Spanish speaker and early childhood educator, hosted a Spanish language storytime. Library Director Christine Friese hosted a third language storytime in French.
Other libraries might have meet the author (or illustrator) events as a TYCLD activity. These libraries will invite a favorite or local children’s author (or illustrator) to host a meet ‘n’ greet with young patrons. Sometimes, these guests will be invited to host a storytime with young readers.
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How Can Libraries Register to Participate in TYCLD?
Libraries interested in participating in the TYCLD initiative should register their library with the Connecticut Library Consortium to be added to the web-based map showing which libraries are taking part in this annual event. Patrons are encouraged to ask their local libraries to participate in TYCLD to raise awareness about the importance of supporting childhood literacy in their communities.
Finding TYCLD Events at Your Library
Many libraries are participating in this year’s TYCLD, which falls on February 1, 2025. Activities will vary by library location. Some libraries will celebrate on an alternate day in February or schedule events throughout the month, so call ahead and check to see what they have planned. Share your child’s experience on social media, tag your library, and be sure to use #TakeYourChildtotheLibraryDay to raise awareness about the day and the importance of children’s libraries with your friends and family.
Read more about TYCLD on EveryLibrary.
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