Celebrating Constitution Day

Details

Last Updated: July 15 2019

Published: May 11 2018

Each September, Federal depository libraries across the Nation celebrate Constitution Day with special events, library displays, and promotion via library websites and social media. Constitution Day is the perfect time to celebrate your library and promote the wonderful resources and services your library staff provides to the public.

Free Resources from GPO

• Explore and order free promotional resources from GPO to give to patrons.
• Resources for download:
  • Word Search activity for children
  • Connect the Dots activity for children
  • Ben’s Guide Scavenger Hunt activities for children
    • Apprentice level quiz (ages 4 – 8) & answer key
    • Journeyperson level quiz (ages 9-13) & answer key
  • Images for websites and social media
  • Printable posters for promoting your Constitution Day activities – Use the top area to add specifics about your library’s events.
    • 11 X 17
    • 8.5 X 11
  • Use Constitution Day trivia to hold contests and giveaways. – Constitution Q&A from the National Archives and supplemental Q&A from GPO. 

Events & Activities Shared by FDLs

Looking for ideas on how to celebrate at your library? Assembled here is a sampling of the many ways in which depository libraries have commemorated this important moment in U.S. history. 

• Host a people’s reading of the Constitution.
• Hire a living historian to portray a Founding Father. 
• Dress in period costume, and speak to patrons as though you are a Founding Father.
• Offer baked goods and refreshments – star and flag-shaped cookies are popular. 
• Set up an information table to spread the word about U.S. Government documents.
• Use social media to have contests using trivia.
• Offer printed copies of trivia quizzes at the reference desk.
• Create table displays. Pocket Constitutions are great conversation starters. 
• Link Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. Lots of FDLP publications apply to both commemorations. 
• Invite political scientists and historians to host public discussions on topics such as freedom of speech, citizenship, etc. 
• Set up a Constitution-themed photo booth with props such as American flags, and excerpts from the Constitution.
• Hold social media contests where patrons have to portray a part of the Constitution using a unique hashtag and tag the library.
• Create a Constitution Day LibGuide. Here are a few examples that have been shared with GPO over the years.
  • Utah State University’s Merrill-Cazier Library
  • The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Murphy Library
  • University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries
  • Wichita State University Libraries
  • Harford Community College Library
  • Loyola University New Orleans’ Monroe Library
  • Arizona State University’s University Libraries
  • University of Iowa Libraries
  • Davis & Elkins College's Booth Library
• Create a video for sharing on your library’s website and on social media. Here’s a great example from the Dayton Metro Library and another from the Harford Community College Library.
• Order a large puzzle of the Preamble and allow patrons to work on assembling it. 
• Celebrate in conjunction with your library’s FDLP designation anniversary. See our free anniversary resources here, as well as examples of what others have done to celebrate their FDLP anniversaries.
  • The University of South Alabama created this Constitution Day quiz. The winning patron gets a prize at the library’s anniversary celebration event.
• Host a debate on a constitutional topic.
• Host volunteers to Board of Elections to register new voters.
• Organize and promote an essay contest. 
• Enlarge the pages of the Constitution and display them around the library.
• Ask your library’s coffee shop to create Constitution-themed coffees for the day.
• Host musicians to play patriotic music.
• Lead a parade around town or on campus with participants dressed in period costume.
• Invite local and campus newspapers to report on your Constitution Day events.

Share Your Events with GPO

The staff at the U.S. Government Publishing Office always likes to hear about the creative ways your library celebrates Constitution Day. Share your event details and photos with us via askGPO. Under the “Ask a Question” tab, use the category, “Federal Depository Libraries” and the subcategory, “Marketing Strategies/Radio Spots.”

More Resources

• Did you know that GPO is an official partner with the Civics Renewal Network? This organization strives to increase the quality of civics education in our nation's schools and improve accessibility to high-quality, no-cost learning materials. Check out their great Constitution Day resources.
• Read this archived FDLP Connection article about the University of Iowa Libraries’ 2013 Constitution Day celebration.

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