Take Your Child to the Library Day 2026 Celebrates 15 Years of Family Library Engagement
The 15th annual Take Your Child to the Library Day took place nationwide on Saturday, February 7, 2026, with families celebrating at more than 1,087 libraries across 49 states and Canada
The annual event invites families to explore their local libraries through special programs, hands-on activities, and welcoming experiences that highlight the essential role libraries play in literacy, learning, and community connection. Registration for libraries is free, allowing each participating location to design events that reflect the unique needs and interests of their community.
Across the country, libraries hosted storytimes, crafts, scavenger hunts, LEGO builds, STEM activities, and family drop-in programs. Many welcomed local children’s book authors, therapy dogs, and beloved characters such as Pete the Cat, the Cat in the Hat, the Ninja Turtles, and Sonic the Hedgehog. From magic shows to creative play and shared reading, libraries opened their doors as inclusive spaces for families of all kinds.
“We couldn’t be prouder that our library is the birthplace of Take Your Child to the Library Day, launched 15 years ago! This celebration invites families to explore their public library, a welcoming and free community resource that supports early literacy and provides engaging programs for all,” said Jenna Bivona of Waterford Public Library of Waterford, CT. “To mark the 15th anniversary, our festivities included a concert with local children’s musician Steve Elci (who performed at the very first Take Your Child to the Library Day), therapy dogs, as well as literary-themed crafts and activities. To kick off the day, we honored former Children’s Librarian Nadine Lipman, who played an integral part in making this special event a reality. 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.”
“Today was a day filled with lots of library joy,” said Eileen Saam, Oak Park Public Library, Oak Park, IL. “From packed storytimes to a delightful Stay and Play, to Lego Club, kids and families seemed to have a great time at the library today. There was a lot of coloring, crafting, and creating at tables throughout the children’s department and in the Acorn Lab, and lots of play throughout, including the scavenger hunt.”
“This year was our 3rd consecutive year to celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day, and we had a blast!” said Adam Webb, Director of the Garland County (AR) Library. "We hosted a Library Scavenger Hunt for families to visit different resources around our library to learn more about them, a Bunny Hat craft, LEGO Club, a monthly program we offer to patrons, and several other small crafts. It is one of our favorite programs each year, and my personal favorite so far in 2026! Libraries are for everyone, and we love sharing information about how our library can serve our patrons in such a fun way.”
“Take Your Child to the Library Day invited families to learn and explore side by side through construction play, reading with a therapy dog, and hands-on building and number activities at the light table,” said Anna Langrill, of the Ada Community Libraries of Ada County, ID. “These moments reflect our library’s mission to provide a safe community space that nurtures literacy, learning, and creative expression for all ages.”
“We welcomed 60-plus families to Take Your Child to the Library Day at the Selbyville Public Library for fun book-themed activities organized by the library’s Youth Services Coordinator, Haley Gray. Families were grateful for free indoor entertainment during one of winter’s coldest days on the blustery East Coast,” said Director Kelly Kline of the Selbyville Public Library, Selbyville, DE.
“This was our library’s first time celebrating Take Your Child to the Library Day, and it was wonderful! It brought the library to the front of parents’ minds as a place to visit and have fun on a weekend,” said Karen Kresh of Unalaska Public Library, Unalaska, AK. “We had families building LEGO sets, doing yoga, decorating their own bookmarks and book bags, and of course, checking out books. Every child who checked out a book got a little prize. It was great to see so many curious and joyful kids enjoying our library. From a staff perspective, this program was easy to do. It provided a great inspiration to have a little extra celebration and bring in patrons who don’t visit all the time along with our regulars.”
“Take Your Child to the Library Day was a lovely event to celebrate the everyday things you can do at the Library with your child. With your local library, every day can be filled with imagination, creation, and fun for all ages,” said Melissa Gardner, of Palatine Library District of Palatine, IL.
“Southwest La Plata Library District’s Fort Lewis Mesa Library celebrated “Take Your Child to the Library” Day with a lineup of fun, laughter, and Olympic spirit,” said Rebecca Perry-Benally, Director, Southwest La Plata Library District, CO. “Our 2026 Winter Olympics theme carried through the day with three special story times featuring Olympic-inspired stories, an exciting Olympics scavenger hunt, a snowball toss, and plenty of additional activities for families to enjoy. From start to finish, it was a gold-medal day filled with smiles, discovery, and community fun for everyone who joined us!”
“It is always a joy to see families choosing to spend a Saturday at the library together,” said Cheryl Heywood, Executive Director of Timberland Regional Library. “Take Your Child to the Library Day reminds us how important welcoming, shared experiences are for building a love of reading and learning. Timberland Regional Library celebrated Take Your Child to the Library Day with 18 of its libraries hosting special programs and activities for children and their families. From crafts and photo stations to simple hands-on activities, the day highlighted the library as a welcoming place for learning, creativity, and connection.”
"This was our library’s first year participating in Take Your Child to the Library Day, and the response was overwhelmingly positive,” said Emily A. Stockdale, Library Manager, Keizer Community Library in Oregon. “Attendance increased, new library cards were opened, and we gave away a number of free books. We are fortunate to have a fantastic Spanish storytime to anchor our Saturdays, as well as community volunteers who bring in therapy dogs for Read to a Dog, which the children look forward to each week. For Take Your Child to the Library Day, I aimed to expand on these family-focused offerings by creating drop-in activities that suited a wide range of ages while maximizing our limited space and resources. The event was a wonderful reminder of how much even a small library like ours has to offer to the community. I look forward to building on this foundation for our participation in the future!"
Ellen Paul, Executive Director of the Connecticut Library Consortium, the founder of TYCLD, said, “Take Your Child to the Library Day holds a special place in my heart because it reflects the very best of what libraries do, bringing families together around learning, curiosity, and joy. This celebration wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of library staff and volunteers across the country who go above and beyond to create welcoming, memorable experiences for families. Their creativity, care, and commitment are what make this day so meaningful year after year.”
Johb Chrastka, Executive Director of EveryLibrary, said, “We’re deeply grateful to the Connecticut Library Consortium for its leadership and stewardship of Take Your Child to the Library Day over the past 15 years. With more than 1,000 libraries participating this year, it was inspiring to see so many creative, joyful ways libraries connected with local families. Hundreds of thousands of people experienced their library in new ways through play, learning, and shared discovery. That kind of connection is exactly what keeps libraries strong at the community level.”
As Take Your Child to the Library Day marks its 15th anniversary, the celebration continues to spark enthusiasm among librarians and families alike, reaffirming libraries as vibrant, welcoming spaces for learning, discovery, and shared community life.
Take Your Child to the Library Day is an initiative of the Connecticut Library Consortium. Since 2024, EveryLibrary has served as a national partner, promoting the importance of libraries for families and supporting access to books, early literacy programs, technology, homework help, and lifelong learning opportunities.
For a full list of participating libraries, visit takeyourchildtothelibrary.org
2026 TYCLD Photo Gallery
