CHICAGO – Icelandic-Chinese composer, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Laufey has been named honorary chair of Library Card Sign-up Month. This September, Laufey will join the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide to give everyone a front row seat to the joy of getting a library card.
“Laufey’s ability to connect with fans around the world makes her an inspiring champion for libraries and the transformative power of a library card,” said ALA President Sam Helmick. “Her passion for reading, creativity, and community mirrors the heart of what libraries stand for.”
As honorary chair, Laufey will spotlight how, no matter what your tastes are, a library card hits all the right notes—whether you enjoy reading a classic story, vibing out in a cozy nook, learning new skills in the library’s makerspace, or checking out instruments and tools in the Library of Things.
"Growing up caught between different cultures and moving around a lot, libraries always served as a safe haven for me,” said Laufey. “I loved reading, and the idea that I could find something that connected to every part of me felt magical. Whether it was a book about Iceland, a volume on classical music, or a fantasy novel, my endless wanderlust was well satiated. I've carried these spaces with me into adulthood, and the stories from within have directly impacted my songwriting. I'm honored to be this year's Library Card Sign Up Month chair, and especially thrilled to be expanding the Laufey Book Club library card program so that more people have one more reason to experience everything their local library has to offer."
Laufey, the youngest ever and two-time recipient of the GRAMMY® Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, has captivated a generation with virtuosic songs of love and self-discovery by manifesting her vision of jazz- and classical-infused pop music. An enthusiastic reader, she founded the Laufey Book Club in 2022 helping to foster a global community of readers. Her first picture book, “Mei Mei The Bunny,” is a New York Times Bestseller and available now from Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House Children’s Books.
Laufey’s achievements have grown to include over 8 billion global streams, a social media audience of over 25 million, the largest jazz album debut in Spotify history, an album in Billboard’s Top 5, and honored as one of TIME’s Women of the Year in 2025. Last year, Laufey partnered with four U.S. public library systems—Boston Public Library, Fulton County (Ga.) Library, LA County Library, and Phoenix Public Library, as well as a library system in Iceland—to launch limited edition Laufey Book Club collaborative library cards and encourage library card sign-ups in celebration of her annual fan activation in August, A Very Laufey Day, and ahead of Library Card Sign-up Month. Most of the library systems reported breaking single day sign-up records on the launch day for the collaborative cards. For this year's upcoming A Very Laufey Day on Sunday, August 23rd, Laufey in concert with ALA is extending the opportunity for library systems across the US to launch their own Laufey Book Club branded collaborative card with a nationwide launch date of August 23rd. Libraries interested in launching a collaborative card should complete the enrollment form at https://laufey.ffm.to/lbclibrary by July 10.
Along with her honorary chair role, Laufey will also join ALA’s celebrity READ® campaign and be featured on a new READ® poster, available for purchase in the ALA Store alongside official Library Card Sign-up Month posters and bookmarks. In the coming months, free Library Card Sign-up Month graphics will be made available along with media tools such as a press release template, proclamation, and sample social media posts.
Since 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month has been held each September to mark the beginning of the school year. During the month, ALA and libraries unite in a national effort to promote all the offerings that having a library card unlocks and to ensure everyone signs up for one.
About the American Library Association
The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America’s libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more information, visit www.ala.org.
