Library and Information Services Month - Library and Information Services Month is here, join us to understand the importance of the day and how to celebrate it.

Library and Information Services Month 2024 – November 2024

We are celebrating Library and Information Services Month throughout November. It is a month-long celebration that started in the Philippines in 1991 with the Presidential Proclamation 837 series of 1991. The purpose of the month is to raise awareness and public interest in the importance and valuable services provided by libraries and other information centers. Activities during the month are coordinated by the National Library of the Philippines (N.L.P.) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts – National Committee on Libraries and Information Services (N.C.C.A.-N.C.L.I.S.)

History of Library and Information Services Month

We are going through the age of information. The modern world is powered by information technology. Those with the most knowledge lead the world. But, that was not always the case. During the early days of human civilization, people were occupied mainly with the need for survival. As society progressed and human settlements became more established, systems of communicating and writing became necessary. The more complex human society became, the greater the need for knowledge. This, in turn, gave birth to written languages, where information was inscribed on stone tablets, parchment, and scrolls and shared with the community, then passed down to the next generation. Over time, written languages began to emerge. Sanskrit, Tamil, and Egyptian are among the first systematic languages, developed between 3000 B.C. and 300 B.C. We started using them to record and pass down information.Languages were not only used for information, but the demand for the writing of stories, poems, and literature flourished. People started to record things, and others learned to read everything they could. Reading also became popular, with the release of new books and information. In the 18th century, the accumulation of knowledge and technology was so vast it led to the Industrial Revolution, which continues through to the present. World-class libraries began to appear throughout various cultures. The era of science arose through the development of information centers like these libraries.The Philippines understood the importance of libraries and exchanging information. To appreciate the importance of the services provided by libraries and other information centers, they declared the month of November as Library and Information Services Month in 1991.

Library and Information Services Month timeline

700 B.C.
First Organized Library

The first organized library is discovered in Nineveh and named after Ashurbanipal, the Assyrian ruler, and it contains approximately 30,000 cuneiform tablets.

285 – 246 B.C.
Library Of Alexandria

The great library of Alexandria is thought to contain as many as 400,000 scrolls from all over the world.

830 A.D.
Bayt Al-Hikmah

Baghdad establishes one of its world-famous libraries, Bayt al-Ḥikmah which means ‘House of Wisdom.’

1971
Project Gutenberg

American writer Michael S. Hart establishes the oldest digital library through Project Gutenberg.

Library and Information Services Month FAQs

What do libraries in the Philippines celebrate for November?

Library and Information Services.

What is the main purpose of a library?

The primary purpose of the public library is to provide resources and services to meet the needs of individuals and groups for education, and personal development.

Who was the first librarian?

The first recorded librarian was Zenodotus of Ephesus. He was a Greek grammarian and a literary critic.

Library and Information Services Month Activities

  1. Visit a library

    Visiting a library is the best thing to do this month. Rekindle the joy of reading books and learning new information.

  2. Take a friend to the library

    Reading is one of the best pastimes, but not everyone understands this. Take a friend who does not usually read to the library and show them how entertaining and informative the whole process can be.

  3. Read a book in a week

    Challenge yourself to finish a book in a week. Choose your favorite genre and start reading now.

5 Facts About Libraries That You Should Know

  1. Library specific handwriting

    There is a specific handwriting style for librarians, and it is called Library hand.

  2. Bats and books

    The Joanina Library at the University of Coimbra in Portugal uses bats to control pests that attack books.

  3. Largest library

    The Library of Congress in Washington is the world's largest library.

  4. Most stolen book

    “The Guinness Book of World Records” ironically holds the record for being the most stolen book from public libraries.

  5. Multinational library

    The Haskell Free Library and Opera House are shared by both the U.S. and Canada, and it straddles the border.

Why We Love Library and Information Services Month

  1. Reading is learning

    Reading is an important hobby for many people. It can help inspire people to discover new information. Even if it is a book telling children's folklore, it can still teach valuable lessons.

  2. It spreads the importance of reading

    We love reading, and we love it even better when we can spread the importance of reading. This is a month when many people start their reading journey, and we love it.

  3. It’s a commitment to information

    Reading is learning. No matter how silly or simple a book you are reading may seem, it still contains a few pieces of information that you never knew or realized. Committing a month to reading is like learning new information throughout the month.

Library and Information Services Month dates

Year Date Day
2022 November 1 Tuesday
2023 November 1 Wednesday
2024 November 1 Friday
2025 November 1 Saturday
2026 November 1 Sunday
All Saints' Day
​National Calzone Day
National Vinegar Day
National Men Make Dinner Day
National Brush Day
Karnataka Rajyotsava Day
National Cook For Your Pets Day
National Jersey Friday
National Deep Fried Clams Day
National Cinnamon Day
Extra Mile Day
National Family Literacy Day
Fountain Pen Day
Love Your Lawyer Day
National Author's Day
Prime Meridian Day
World Vegan Day
Haryana Day
International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day
Lakshmi Puja
Puducherry Liberation Day
Antigua Independence Day
Kut
Kannada Rajyothsava
D. Hamilton Jackson Day
Anniversary of the Revolution
Coronation Day of His Majesty the King
Pâté Day
Laxmi Puja
Scented Candle Day
National Biologic Coordinators Day
National Jayden Day
National Mia Day
Calan Gaeaf
All Saints Day (Spain)
GeorgeNotFound's Birthday
Lil Peep's Birthday
Jayden Bartels's Birthday
Natalia Tena's Birthday
Penn Badgley's Birthday
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Birthday
Paige Hyland's Birthday
Anthony Ramos's Birthday
David Foster's Birthday
Earth Katsamonnat's Birthday
JoJo Fletcher's Birthday
Anthony Kiedis's Birthday
Sada Bettencourt's Birthday
Jenny McCarthy's Birthday
Marc D'Amelio's Birthday
Coco Crisp's Birthday
Gabrielle Bernstein's Birthday
Sunset Safari's Birthday
World Communication Week
National Fig Week
National Medical Cannabis Week
​Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month
​Diabetic Eye Disease Month
​National Diabetes Month
​National Epilepsy Awareness Month
​National Family Caregivers Month
National Fun with Fondue Month
​National Impotency Month
National Peanut Butter Lovers Month
National Pepper Month
No Shave November
​PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month
​National Healthy Skin Month
​National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
​National Novel Writing Month
Banana Pudding Lovers Month
National Prevent a Litter Month
Family Stories Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Gluten Free Diet Awareness Month
Manatee Awareness Month
National Adopt A Senior Pet Month
Military Family Month
National Adoption Month
National Roasting Month
National Family Literacy Month
National Gratitude Month
National Native American Heritage Month
National Entrepreneurship Month
Aviation History Month
Filipino Values Month
National Raisin Bread Month
Adopt a Turkey Month
Stomach Cancer Awareness Month
Bladder Health Month
Library and Information Services Month
National Long-term Care Awareness Month
Traditional and Alternative Health Month
National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility
Philippine Book Development Month
National Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation Month
Worldwide Bereaved Siblings Month
National Children’s Month
National Repair Done Right Month
National Pomegranate Month
Pet Diabetes Month
National Life Writing Month
National Rice Awareness Month
National Marrow Awareness Month
National Inspirational Role Models Month
National Pet Cancer Awareness Month
National Home Care and Hospice Month
National Scholarship Month