Library Lovers Day

Library Lovers Day is celebrated on February 14 every year. This is a day to honor the libraries, librarians, nerds, and library lovers in our lives. A library is a collection of information resources that are accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing. Library collections may include books, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, films, maps, prints, documents, microforms, CDs, cassettes, video tapes, DVDs, Blu- ray, e-book, audio and database. Librarians provide services to libraries by finding and organizing information and interpreting information needs. This day is mainly celebrated all over Australia.

History of Library Lovers Day

Library Lovers Day was first started in Australia in 2006 by the State Library of New South Wales (NSW). The day became a national holiday in 2007 when the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) took part in a campaign to promote their passion for books. While the aim was to raise awareness of the services some major libraries provide, the day soon became a day of solace for those 'without data' on V-Day.

Today, Library Lovers' Day is celebrated worldwide with a new theme every year! For example, in 2018 Bond University's John & Alison Kearney Library was in full swing and celebrated the day with a flashy display of a vintage typewriter, pen and paper. Items are placed so visitors can write love letters to that special someone or their favorite library.

In 2019, ALIA introduced the theme 'Love Stories in the Library', which also included a fiction writing contest about finding love in the library. That same year, #LibraryLoversDay also trended on Twitter. In 2020, the South Perth Libraries held an event where everyone had to fill out a 'Matching Form' and library staff introduced readers to books and authors they might love based on on their personality traits. Talk about a match made in heaven!

How to celebrate Library Lovers Day

Library Lovers day can be celebrated by visiting the local library by showing appreciation to the library and librarian, by donating some books or money to their library. One can also show some love to their library-loving friends by gifting them books. You can also encourage people to become library members, which will motivate them to read and lend books. Libraries often celebrate this day by giving away bookmarks and chocolates to their customers. Library groups organize events and projects, including a book date or a bachelorette night in the library, and customers love it. A blind date is when a borrower chooses a book based on descriptions without knowing the title of the book. Not everyone gets flowers on Valentine's Day, but everyone is welcome at their local public library. Share your thoughts on Library Lovers Day on social media using the hashtag #LibraryLoversDay.