This year marks a special milestone for the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) as they celebrate 40 years of honoring school librarians and the vital role of school libraries. School Library Month, observed every April, is an opportunity for school librarians to engage their students, teachers, and communities in recognizing the importance of strong school libraries have in shaping learning experiences.

The national movement to establish School Library Month was led by Lucille Thomas, chair of the School Library Media Month Committee, who was appointed in 1983. Dedicated efforts led to the first official celebration on April 1, 1985. And since then, AASL (a division of the American Library Association with over 7,000 members) has continued to support school librarians across the U.S., Canada… and beyond!

If you are a school librarian, teacher, or a dedicated parent/school volunteer, there are many creative ways to celebrate School Library Month and showcase the invaluable role of your library. Here are 14 activities that will bring attention to your school library and help foster a love of reading among students:

1. Create a Student Picks Book Display – Invite students to share their favorite books, along with a short note about why they love them. A “Staff Picks” section can also be a great way to highlight diverse reading choices.
2. Hold a Poster Contest – Encourage students to design a poster that promotes the school library. Display the finished posters throughout the school. Students can vote for their favorite, with a special prize awarded to the winner.
3. Host a Drama Festival Featuring Favorite Stories – Allow students to act out excerpts from their favorite books (either solo or in small groups).  
4. Encourage Students to Write a Graphic Novel About the Library – A fantastic project for young artists and storytellers, this activity allows students to collaborate on a creative work that tells the unique story of their school library.
5. Organize an After-School Book Swap – Set up a book exchange where students and faculty can trade books they’ve enjoyed, helping foster a sense of literary community. (Make sure that children who don’t have a book to swap can still participate by providing recent library or classroom discards.)
6. Host a “Book Tasting” Event – Give students the chance to sample different books at various “stations” to spark their interest in new genres and authors.
7. Sponsor a Book Drive – Recruit students to collect gently used books to donate to local literacy initiatives. (If you’re in Delaware or the tri-state area, consider donating to Success Won’t Wait, which supports a variety of literacy projects.)
8. Plan a “Maker Night” – Invite students and their families for an evening of creative crafting, building, and inventing, all inspired by favorite books and stories.
9. Host an Author Event – Arrange for a local author, poet, or illustrator to visit your school, either in person or via Zoom, to inspire students with insights into their creative process.
10. Organize a School-Wide Reading Challenge – Encourage students to track their reading progress through a bingo board, checklist, or reading log. Set goals based on reading time, genres explored, or total pages read. Prizes optional. Make sure to announce and post the winners!
11. Create a School-Wide Book Review Display – Have students and staff submit reviews of their favorite books. Post them on a bulletin board or in the library for others to discover new reading recommendations.
12. Hold a Book Cover Contest – Invite students, teachers, and families to recreate the covers of their favorite books using art supplies or digital tools. Display their designs and let the school vote for their favorites.
13. Schedule a Book Character Dress-Up Day – Encourage students and staff to dress up as their favorite book characters.  
14. Run a Library Scavenger Hunt – Challenge students (by classroom) to explore the library by answering fun questions that require them to find specific books, sections, or resources within the library.

By engaging students and the school community in these fun and educational activities, School Library Month can become a meaningful celebration of reading, creativity, and lifelong learning. Whether you’re a librarian, teacher, or volunteer, your efforts can help highlight the impact of school libraries and foster a culture of literacy that extends well beyond April!

About Success Won’t Wait

Founded in 2002, Success Won’t Wait is a not-for-profit literacy organization based in Wilmington, Delaware. To learn more about Success Won’t Wait’s literacy projects, how to donate used children’s books in Delaware, or volunteer your time, please click on the About Us tab above.

And, if your program, school or center needs assistance with books, please Contact Us to learn more.

Read now, because success won’t wait!