National Libraries Week

 


We used to celebrate National Libraries Day. Now we celebrate National Libraries Week! It gives us a really good chance to love and appreciate our local libraries, and show our appreciation to librarians and volunteers.

Remember that libraries provide much more than just a wealth of free books for all ages. They provide community, a safe place, calm, friendship and, of course, story time!

National Libraries Week will be celebrated from 2nd to 8th October in 2023 in the UK. In the US, National Library Week will be 7th to 13th April 2024.

In 2023 National Libraries Week in the UK is becoming Green Libraries Week to celebrate the work our libraries do towards sustainability and climate change.

National Libraries Week

Why not use National Libraries Week as an excuse for a visit? Libraries are under pressure, and if we don't use them, we might lose them. While you are there, find out about everything that's on offer and join up if you haven't already. Take out a book or two and a DVD perhaps. And say thank you to the librarians that work so hard to make it all possible!

A Book is Like a Garden Poster

A Book is Like a Garden Poster

A book is like a garden carried in a pocket. So says this lovely Chinese proverb ... and I know many of us will agree! This would make a fun poster for a reading corner or a library.

Autumn Themed Picture Book Scavenger Hunt

Autumn Themed Picture Book Scavenger Hunt

You will need to look through lots of autumnal picture books to find these pictures. You could do it at home or at the library and hopefully you'll find some lovely books to read. 

Book Alphabet Challenge

Book Alphabet Challenge

Can you come up with a book themed word for each letter of the alphabet? Here's our book alphabet challenge page to print and distribute.

Book Colouring Page

Book Colouring Page

Here's a simple picture of a story book for kids to print and colour in. Just click the link below for our printable version.

Book Frame

Book Frame

This book frame can be used in many ways, and comes in three varieties: blank, one side lined and the other left unlined for a picture, and both sides lines. Use it as a writing or drawing frame, for book reports, for notices on the board, or even as story paper ...

Books Colouring Page

Books Colouring Page

Here's a books colouring page featuring a stack of children's books to colour in.

Books I Would Like To Read

Books I Would Like To Read

Here's a fun way to keep a reading list! Just get the kids to write the names of the books (and maybe the authors) on the spines and covers on the picture. Perhaps they could colour in each book as they read it?

Books Size Sorting

Books Size Sorting

Print and cut out the different sizes of books, then ask the kids to sort them by size. Laminate the books if you want to reuse them again.

Books to Read Planner

Books to Read Planner

Do you create a reading list for your children? If so this is the planner for you. Alternatively use it to encourage children to choose their own books. It would be helpful for listing books to read for a project or to make a list of those to reserve from the library.

Books Tracing Page

Books Tracing Page

Children can trace the dotted lines of these books - quite tricky as there are lots of straight lines involved! Younger children could trace within the channel formed by the double lines instead.

Bookshelf Colouring Bookmarks 1

Bookshelf Colouring Bookmarks 1

These colouring bookmarks are chunky and fun, depicting a bookshelf full of adult books for the kids to colour in and perfect for them to give a favourite adult as a little gift...

Bookshelf Colouring Bookmarks 2

Bookshelf Colouring Bookmarks 2

Here's a bookshelf full of children's books, spines outward - and it makes a really fun bookmarks for the kids to colour in and use themselves or gift to friends or siblings!

Bookshelf Colouring Bookmarks 3

Bookshelf Colouring Bookmarks 3

Here's a fun bookshelf full of cookery books for the kids to colour in - and it makes a perfect little gift for them to give to any favourite adult cooks, especially with a nice message on the back!

Bookworm bookmarks

Bookworm Bookmarks

What better to mark the place in your reading book than a bookworm bookmark! These cute little fellows will encourage the kids to read. We've left space on the background for you to write a message, a child's name or perhaps the page numbers.

Bookworm Colouring Bookmarks

Bookworm Colouring Bookmarks

Colour in and cut out 4 fun bookworm colouring bookmarks - perfect for keeping the place in your reading books! We've left space for writing page numbers, a child's name or a message.

Children with Books Bookmarks

Children with Books Bookmarks

These bookmarks are quick to print and cut out and they look particularly nice if you use a punch to curve the corners and then laminate them. Perfect for any occasion, really - National Libraries Day, World Book Day, reading incentives or rewards in the classroom etc.

Children with Books Colouring Bookmarks

Children with Books Colouring Bookmarks

These lovely colouring bookmarks are sure to go down well with the kids! Print onto card and cut out in advance, then hand them out to be coloured in. Libraries could leave a stack out ready to be coloured. We have a pre-coloured version too, here.

Children with Books Colouring Page

Children with Books Colouring Page

It looks like these kids have some reading to do! Colour them in - and maybe write the names of your favourite books on the spines too?

Children With Books Poster

Children With Books Poster

This lovely bright printable poster will brighten up the classroom, library or nursery, and hopefully remind children of how much fun it is to read books! You could even write your favourite titles on the spines with a fine tipped pen.

Encouraging Reading

Encouraging Reading

Encouraging your child to read a wide variety of books is probably the best education you can give them - but sometimes it seems an uphill struggle! We have put together a collection of tips and tricks to encourage reading which may give you some ideas.

If I Could Learn About Anything

If I Could Learn About Anything

If I could learn about anything at all, I would like to learn about.... Children can draw pictures or write about all the things they would most like to learn about using this open book printable.

Julia Donaldson Quote Poster

Julia Donaldson Quote Poster

This lovely quote by Julia Donaldson all about books and libraries is perfect for displaying in a reading corner or school library.

Learn to Draw a Librarian

Learn to Draw a Librarian

Here's a fun step by step tutorial teaching children how to draw a librarian - part of our professions and school series of learn to draw printables. Click below for the printable version.

Librarian Colouring Page

Librarian Colouring Page

Here's a cheerful librarian colouring page for young children.  I'm sure she won't tell you to 'shh!'

Librarian Poster

Librarian Poster

Here's a cute printable poster of a librarian to use in a "People Who Help Us" theme, in school, or the library! Scroll down for matching colouring page and "learn to draw" printable, and click on the link below for our printable version of the poster.

Library Alphabet Challenge

Library Alphabet Challenge

Coming up with one word for each letter of the alphabet, all to do with the library, isn't going to be easy! Print out our library alphabet challenge and give it a go...

Library Books Tracker

Library Books Tracker

Available in either colour or black and white, this library books tracker will keep the family organised - and it looks great out on display, too. The colour version is best printed with your printer's borderless settings.

Library Colouring Bookmarks

Library Colouring Bookmarks

These library colouring bookmarks can be used for the public library or the school library. Why not cut them out in advance and put a stack out, ready for the kids to colour in? Every bookmark needs a book to put it in...

Library Colouring Page

Library Colouring Page

You don't have to guess where these children are coming from - the library! They each have a good stack of books to read which will keep them busy for a while, as we hope this colouring page will do for your children!

Library Maze

Library Maze

Help the librarian find her way through the maze to collect the book on the other side. If the book doesn't go back on the shelf, who will be able to borrow it?

Library Poster

Library Poster

You might display this lovely colourful library poster at school or at home to remind kids to go to the library - or in the library itself! It prints best using your printer's borderless settings.

Library Scavenger Hunt

Library Scavenger Hunt

Our library scavenger hunt is a brilliant way to get the kids involved at the library and help them discover everything that's on offer. Print a page for each child, give them a pencil, and off they go!

Library Word Search

Library Word Search

Libraries aren't just about borrowing books and reading. Here's a word search puzzle on a library theme for the kids to try.

Library Word Search 2

Library Word Search 2

Hunt through our fun library word search puzzle to find the library-themed words! There's a picture for the kids to colour in too, if they like.

My Day As A Librarian Diary

My Day As A Librarian Diary

There's much more to working in a library than just handing out books. Can the children find out more about the job of a librarian, and write about it here?

My Favourite Books Journal Page

My Favourite Books Journal Page

Make a list of your favourite books and sign and date it. It will be fun to look back on in the future. Why not update the list once a year, on your birthday or World Book Day, perhaps?

My Favourite Books Picture Gallery

My Favourite Books Picture Gallery

Ask the children to choose five of their favourite books and illustrate them for this picture gallery printable. This might make a good end-of-summer-holiday activity.

Oh the Places You'll Go Poster

Oh the Places You'll Go Poster

Oh the places you'll go!

Who doesn't love this fabulous poem from Dr Seuss? This colourful poster might brighten up a corner of the library, or perhaps the bedroom of an adventurous child...

Picture Book Scavenger Hunt

Picture Book Scavenger Hunt

This is a fun activity that can be done at home or in the library. You will need to look through lots of picture books to find the things in this scavenger hunt and you might find some interesting new books to read. 

Reading Award Bookmarks

Reading Award Bookmarks

Four fun printable bookmarks to give to kids when they've read well. Useful for classroom or home.

Reading Quotes Bookmarks

Reading Quotes Bookmarks

Bright and cheerful, with quotes to inspire reading, these printable bookmarks would make a great gift.

Reading with Grandma Colouring Page

Reading with Grandma Colouring Page

A little girl enjoys reading a story with her Grandma in this pretty colouring page. Why not send it to Grandma with a letter or a note on the back?

School Books Scrapbook Paper

School Books Scrapbook Paper

School books line the top and bottom of this bordered scrapbook paper design. Add a photo in the central section of the page, perhaps. This printable would also work well for a front cover, with space for you to write your own title.

So Many Books So Little Time Colouring Page

So Many Books So Little Time Colouring Page

Here's a colouring page for all you book lovers out there - and that makes it one for me, too. Colour in this lovely design with the words "So Many Books, So Little Time". We've left a border around it so that you can treat it as a print and frame it when done.

So Many Books Story Paper

So Many Books Story Paper

This story paper is the story of my life! It's a fun one for the kids to colour in and use for a writing activity. Perhaps they could record a list of books they want to read? Or you could use it to send a letter to a book loving friend...

Story Genres Word Search

Story Genres Word Search

There are lots of different types of story genres hidden in this word search. Can you find them all?

Story Time Poster

Story Time Poster

Here's a cute story time poster to display in your story corner or bring out when it is story time.

Story Time Story Paper

Story Time Story Paper

Ask young children what they like most about school, and many will answer story time! Here's some story time story paper that they can use to write about it, or to make up a story... Choose from the download links below depending on which version you prefer.

Teacher Story Time Colouring Page

Teacher Story Time Colouring Page

Here's a lovely colouring page of a peaceful story time scene in the classroom. There's lots of detail to make it interesting to colour in.

The more that you read poster

The More That You Read Poster

This is one of my favourite set of lines from Dr Seuss - reminding children that the whole world opens up for those who read.

The World Belongs to Those Who Read Colouring Page

The World Belongs to Those Who Read Colouring Page

This lovely colouring page, designed for older children and adults, will strike a chord with all us book lovers! We've left a border around the outside so that you can frame it if you wish, once coloured in. Perfect for a library colouring page, perhaps?

There is No Friend as Loyal as a Book Poster

There is No Friend as Loyal as a Book Poster

We love books, and we love the heart shape of this pretty book too! We thought it was the perfect backdrop to this lovely quote by Ernest Hemingway: "There is no friend as loyal as a book". The poster is best printed using your printer's borderless settings.

Time to Visit the Library Poster

Time to Visit the Library Poster

If your kids love to visit the library, they won't need this poster. If, however, they need a little prompting that it's time to visit the library - here's the poster for them!

With Freedom Books Flowers Story Paper

With Freedom Books Flowers Story Paper

"With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon who could not be happy?" This story paper might be useful for writing a book review, or for a list of your favourite books and flowers?

With Freedom, Books, Flowers Card

With Freedom, Books, Flowers Card

This beautiful card is suitable for any general occasion - to say thank you, to say hello, to wish someone happy birthday etc. It features a quote that reminds us how lucky we are.

With Freedom, Books, Flowers Colouring Page

With Freedom, Books, Flowers Colouring Page

"With freedom, books, flowers and the moon, who could not be happy?" said Oscar Wilde, and I have always agreed - although I would add family and friends into the list too.

With Freedom, Books, Flowers Poster

With Freedom, Books, Flowers Poster

"With freedom, books, flowers and the moon, who could not be happy?" So said Oscar Wilde, and we love the quote so much that we turned it into this pretty poster.

More to Explore...

Reading Logs
Reading Logs

Reading Certificates
Reading Certificates

World Book Day
World Book Day

Characters, Book and Films
Characters, Book and Films

A Note to Librarians

We love it when libraries share our activities. Librarian members are welcome to print resources from Activity Village to distribute at your library. We only ask that you keep them "as is", with our copyright and URL intact, and nothing added. You might find our general Topic and Holiday pages useful, as well as our more specific sections below:

National Libraries Day at Activity Village

Q: Where do library books like to sleep?

A: Under their covers!

National Librarys Day Divider

Libraries A to Z printable posters
I found this lovely set of Library A to Z posters, which have been made freely available by The Library A to Z. You can find the posters here. You will be leaving Activity Village if you click on either of these links.

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