Autobots, roll out…to the library!
Whether you’re upgrading your skills, scouting for knowledge and information, or connecting with other heroic readers, a library card is your key to an arsenal of resources. Spark your creativity as a builder or programmer by tinkering in your library’s makerspace; mine the library’s stacks and databases for new stories and adventures; kickstart your critical thinking skills to defeat the Decepticons of misinformation lurking online. Hitting the road? Use your library card to fuel your mind with books, e-Books, audiobooks, and museum passes.
ALA is teaming up with multiplatform entertainment company Skybound Entertainment and leading toy and game company Hasbro to encourage people to roll out to their libraries with the TRANSFORMERS franchise, featuring Optimus Prime, as part of Library Card Sign-Up Month in September. Read the full announcement.
TRANSFORMERS poster and bookmarks are now available in the ALA Store!
Library Card Sign-up Month History
The campaign started in 1987 as a response to then Secretary of Education William Bennett, who stated, “Let’s have a campaign … Every child should obtain a library card and use it.” Read a detailed account in this 2015 blog post at the American Library Association Archives, A Library Card for Every Child: Library Card Sign-Up Month, by Cara Bertram.
Contact Us:
We'd like to hear what your library has planned for Library Card Sign-up Month or answer your questions. Contact us at campaign@ala.org.
Library Card Sign-up Month is made possible with support from:
Thank you to Skybound Entertainment and Hasbro for allowing TRANSFORMERS character Optimus Prime to help spread the word about the value of a library card during Library Card Sign-up Month 2024.
The historic collaboration between Hasbro and Skybound, with TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE comics finding a new home with the publisher, kicked off last summer with the launch of an all-new shared universe and a reimagining of Hasbro’s Robots in Disguise for a brand-new generation. The Energon Universe has delivered a fresh new start for these franchises in Void Rivals by creator/writer Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead) and creator/artist Lorenzo De Felici (Oblivion Song), TRANSFORMERS by writer/artist Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb) and artist Jorge Corona (Middlewest), Duke by writer Joshua Williamson (DC’s Superman, Dark Ride) and artist Tom Reilly (The Thing), and Cobra Commander by writer Joshua Williamson and artist Andrea Milana (Impact Winter: Rook), with new limited series Scarlett, from writer Kelly Thompson (Black Widow, Birds of Prey) and artist Marco Ferrari (Frontiersman)and Destro, from writer Dan Watters (Loki, Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives!) and artist Andrei Bressan (Dark Ride, Birthright) launching in June. Energon Universe graphic novels are available at libraries nationwide, with new releases to come throughout the year.
For 25 years OverDrive has been on a mission to provide access to compelling, easy-to-use digital materials that reach, engage, and satisfy readers. Since 2002 we have worked with ALA member libraries to invest how libraries lend eBooks and digital audiobooks. Visit Overdrive.com to learn more.
Sora, the student reading app, is the easiest way for schools to provide ebooks and audiobooks to students. Developed by OverDrive Education, this app supports school libraries and classroom reading as well as free access to the local public library using school credentials. Available for iOS, Android and Chromebook.
OverDrive's free Libby app is the easiest way to get started with digital books, audiobooks, and magazines from your public library. Libby is available for Android, iOS, Windows 10, and some Chromebooks.
ALA Library Champions support ALA’s efforts in raising public awareness about the value of libraries and librarians.