Happy International Museums Day! Celebrated every year on May 18, International Museums Day is a day to celebrate museums and how they encourage cultural exchange. As librarians, there are so many ways we work with museums. At my library, we offer museum passes that patrons can check out, which are always very popular with patrons. Libraries and museums can also partner together on programs. Maria Trivisonno created a great list of different museums that feature online programs libraries can use. Some museums, like the DuPage Children’s Museum (IL), even have exhibits that can travel to libraries. Along with programming, another great way to celebrate International Museums Day is with a book display. Here are some recommendations to help jump start a display.
The Museum Heist by Stéphane Anquetil (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2021)
At first, your family vacation seems great. You and your grandfather get to take an after-hours tour of a museum. But when a painting gets stolen, you get blamed, and the only way to clear your name is to solve the crime. Can you successfully find the painting? If you have never read the Escape Book series before, you are in for a treat. These books are so much fun, and have escape room style puzzles in a book that you get to solve! This book is perfect for patrons who love puzzles.
Museum Mayhem by Tracey Baptiste (Freedom Fire, 2025)
Cousins Misty, Aiden, and Brooke are back, and this time, they have to use their moko magic at the Brooklyn Museum. Misty’s Uncle Andrew is planning an exhibit, which includes a Benin Bronze looted from Nigeria in 1897. When the Benin Bronze arrives, things quickly go from bad to worse as evil dust bunnies start attacking people and trapping them in paintings. Can Misty, Aiden, and Brooke save the day? This fantasy adventure is fast paced, and has a great blend of action and thoughtful insights. It’s perfect for fans of fantasy novels and Baptiste’s previous books, like The Jumbies.
Sleepover at the Haunted Museum by Debbie Dadey (Aladdin, 2021)
Shelly is so excited for her birthday! She’s going to have a fun, simple party with her friends. But once the planning gets underway, it goes from simply eating pizza her grandfather made to spending the night at a museum. A museum that just might be haunted. Mermaid fans will love this entry in the Mermaid Tales series. The idea of a People Museum is so fun, and the spooky elements are a great touch to this story.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (Atheneum, 1967)
Theoretically, it is possible to create a list of books that take place in museums, and not include From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. But why would anyone want to leave this book off the list? Claudia’s decision to run away and live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the most important decisions in the history of children’s literature. It’s hard to think of anything to say about this book that hasn’t already been said, but I’m always excited to see a reader discover this book for the first time.
The Museum of Lost and Found by Leila Sales (Amulet, 2023)
Vanessa and Bailey were always good friends, which is why it hurts Vanessa so much when Bailey starts pulling away. Even worse, Bailey throws a party, and doesn’t invite Vanessa. When looking for something to do, Vanessa discovers an abandoned museum, and starts filling it with the memories of their friendship. Can the museum help Vanessa and others in her community? This novel has a great cast of characters, who are revealed through their items in the museum. Readers looking for friendship stories will love this book.
A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga (Harper, 2024)
Seeing a girl floating in a museum would be strange enough, but things get even stranger when Rami realizes he last saw a girl in a painting. Even stranger, that same painting has gone missing, and Rami is one of the suspects. So Rami teams up with classmate and future detective Veda to figure out what happened to the missing painting. Fans of mystery and art will love this mystery.
How is your library celebrating International Museums Day?
Ann Baillie (she/her/hers) is the Youth Services Assistant Manager at the Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library in Alsip, Illinois. She serves on the Illinois Youth Services Institute Planning Committee. Her main interests are the connection between Readers’ Advisory and technology, and how libraries can use technology to better reach patrons.
This post addresses ALSC Core Competency IV: Collection Knowledge and Management.