Library Lover’s Day is a holiday that occurs on February 14th—right in the middle of National Library Lover’s Month. As most people will probably ascertain from its name, this holiday celebrates those who love libraries and books.

However, that isn’t the only thing this holiday celebrates. It also honors the actual libraries themselves, as well as the librarians who keep those libraries functioning. Although not everyone will want to celebrate this day because it falls on Valentine’s Day, those who aren’t taking part in those celebrations might want to observe this holiday instead.

The History of Library Lover’s Day

Library Lover’s Day is a holiday that originated in Australia and spread to the rest of the world from there. Although we’re unsure who started this holiday or when it was started, we do know that it has been around for a few years.

Interesting Facts About Libraries

Before everyone runs out to celebrate Library Lover’s Day on February 14th, we’d like to present some amazing and interesting facts we’ve learned about libraries while researching this holiday. We think the following facts will be appreciated by anyone who has a love for libraries and books.

The First Library Was Started in the 7th Century B.C.

Historians believe that the first library, or at least one of the first libraries, was built approximately 2700 years ago during the 7th century B.C. This library was built for the royal contemplation of Ashurbanipal—an Assyrian ruler.

Located in Nineveh, in modern-day Iraq, it contained over 30,000 cuneiform tablets organized according to their subject. It also housed works of literature—the most notable being the Epic of Gilgamesh, a 4,000-year-old poem.

Benjamin Franklin Started a Lending Library

In 1731 in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin started a lending library. This library was called the Library Company, and it required a subscription fee of 40 shillings for a person to use. One of the oldest public libraries in the United States wouldn’t begin until 1790 in Franklin, Massachusetts. This library-circulated books that were donated by Benjamin Franklin.

The World’s Largest Library Is the Library of Congress

When you look at the depth of the catalog at the Library of Congress, it’s apparent that it is one of the largest libraries in the world. The Library of Congress has over 168 million items in its collection. It was founded in Washington, D.C., in 1800.

However, it suffered a huge setback when its collection of 3,000 volumes was destroyed by British troops during the War of 1812. The rebound and the current size of their collection are even more impressive.

Observing Library Lover’s Day

Everyone wanting to observe this holiday can do so by first using the hashtag #LibraryLoversDay on their social media accounts. Once that’s been done, they can then take a trip to their local library and pick up a book. Picking up a book isn’t the only thing that can be done at a local library, however. People can also take advantage of the other services they offer.