Return Borrowed Books Week
Few things are as satisfying as returning a stack of library books you've read cover to cover, ready to exchange for new adventures.
Encourage library patrons and book lovers to return borrowed materials on time, positioning your brand as a community-minded supporter of shared literacy and library access.
- Share a 'library haul' post celebrating the joy of returning books and discovering new ones
- Partner with local libraries to promote responsible borrowing habits and community library support
- Create a humorous 'overdue book amnesty' campaign highlighting the relief of clearing your reading list
- Feature customer testimonials about their favorite library finds and the satisfaction of returning them
Return Borrowed Books Week was created by Al Kaelin, a prominent art director, and cartoonist in the Los Angeles area. The inspiration for the holiday mostly began as a request from his 3rd-grade teacher, Sister Geraldine, at the Holy Cross School.
According to a 2006 obituary in the Pasadena Star-News, Sister Geraldine was requested of him back in 1953, who was then the librarian at St. Mary’s Hospital at the time. His teacher hoped for him to start this holiday to help encourage those in public and private libraries to return books that have been taken out so that others may also be able to enjoy those same experiences.
The event appears in the annual Chase’s Calendar of Events publication. The Chase Calendar of Events is a reference source for all the important dates and holidays throughout each year and was created by both William and Harrison Chase in 1957.
This holiday is advertised by libraries all across the country to encourage its members to return any borrowed books to their shelves so they can maintain the history and let others enjoy those same books.