More Than 1,000 Libraries Celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day 2026

On Saturday, February 7, 2026, more than 1,087 libraries across 49 states and Canada celebrated the fifteenth annual Take Your Child to the Library Day (TYCLD). Storytimes, scavenger hunts, LEGO builds, and visits from therapy dogs filled children’s rooms from Alaska to Delaware.

Founded in 2011 by Connecticut librarian Nadine Lipman, Take Your Child to the Library Day began as a simple invitation to families. What started at one public library soon spread across the United States and Canada. As we noted in a previous post, “Take Your Child to the Library Day,” the goal was simple: Help children see the library as a place that belongs to them.

Now an initiative of the Connecticut Library Consortium, with national support from EveryLibrary, TYCLD marked its fifteenth anniversary this year.

How Libraries Marked the 15th Anniversary

“We couldn’t be prouder that our library is the birthplace of Take Your Child to the Library Day,” said Jenna Bivona of Waterford Public Library in Connecticut. “Despite the less-than-ideal weather, the library was filled with families spending quality time together, which is exactly what makes this day so meaningful.”

Waterford’s celebration included a concert with children’s musician Steve Elci, therapy dogs, and literary-themed crafts. The library also honored Nadine Lipman, recognizing her role in launching the event fifteen years ago.

At Oak Park Public Library in Illinois, children’s spaces stayed busy throughout the day. “Today was a day filled with lots of library joy,” said Eileen Saam. “From packed storytimes to a delightful Stay and Play, kids and families seemed to have a great time at the library today.”

At the Garland County Library in Arkansas, families participated in a library-wide scavenger hunt and gathered together for LEGO Club. Director Adam Webb called it “one of our favorite programs each year,” adding, “Libraries are for everyone, and we love sharing information about how our library can serve our patrons in such a fun way.”

Some libraries participated for the first time. In Unalaska, Alaska, children built LEGO sets, practiced yoga, and decorated bookmarks. Each child received a small prize for checking out a book. “It was wonderful,” said Karen Kresh of Unalaska Public Library. “It brought the library to the front of parents’ minds as a place to visit and have fun on the weekend.”

In Colorado, the Southwest La Plata Library District embraced a Winter Olympics theme in their storytimes and scavenger hunt. Rebecca Perry-Benally described it as “a gold-medal day filled with smiles, discovery, and community fun.”

Libraries reported strong attendance, with many families opening new library cards.

Why the Day Continues to Grow

The number of participating libraries has increased each year. More than 650 libraries had registered before the event, and final counts surpassed 1,000 participating locations.

Take Your Child to the Library Day is more than a single Saturday. In an earlier post, “Celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day,” we highlighted how libraries support childhood literacy through storytimes and family-centered programming. This year’s celebrations introduced new families to library cards, early literacy resources, and various year-round services offered by their local library.

As John Chrastka, the executive director of EveryLibrary, noted, the event shows how local libraries connect families through shared experiences. “Hundreds of thousands of people experienced their library in new ways through play, learning, and shared discovery,” he said.

Since 2024, EveryLibrary has served as a national partner in promoting Take Your Child to the Library Day and supporting libraries’ outreach to families. The organization works throughout the year to build voter support for libraries, helping ensure that the spaces families celebrated on February 7 remain funded and accessible in every community.

Fifteen years in, the celebration continues to grow, supported by librarians and the families who keep showing up.

Support the libraries in your community by getting involved with EveryLibrary and helping protect access for families all year long.

Visit www.everylibrary.org to learn more about our work on behalf of libraries. 

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