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Every month has a "challenge", and posts on Wednesdays follow that month's theme.
Got an idea for a #ChallengeWednesday? Let us know!
Want to sponsor or cosponsor a #ChallengeWednesday?
Email us at librariesofinstagram [@] gmail.com!

Challenges encourage Instagram users around the world to share their favorite items, following a theme.
Challenge "sponsors" create an announcement post and share that (by tagging or @) with @iglibraries in advance. @iglibraries will repost it, for optimal distribution.
Challenge sponsors agree to share their own content every week of the theme, and may be tagged in posts that follow the month's theme by others.
Responding to posts in your month's challenge is strongly encouraged!
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This list was created by the #LibrariesOfInstagram community and represents a record of challenges, past, present and planned.
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MonthHashtagSponsorCosponsorCosponsorDescription of challenge (suggested content, etc.)
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2015
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February#bugginout@um_spec_coll@sfplbookarts (as @sfpubliclibrary)@americanantiquarian; @freelibraryrarebooks; @bplmaps (as @mapcenter); @fisherlibrarybugs, insects
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March#herecomesthesunday@bplmaps (as @mapcenter)items that invoke warmer weather every Sunday.
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#worldofwednesday@milwaukeepublib@cnlibrarianWednesday challenge featured voyages and travel
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April
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May
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June #PublishersBindings #ROYGBIV@americanantiquarianfor 7 consecutive Thursdays, share a publisher's binding corresponding with the 7 hues of the ROYGBIV spectrum
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July
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August
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September
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October
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November
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December
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2016
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January#WeekOfROYGBIV@kpeck19167 days; share a publisher's binding every day following the ROYGBIV spectrum
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February
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March
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April#UmbrellasInTheLibrary@sfplbookartsApril showers bring May flowers; share illustrations of umbrellas in your collection
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May#BicyclesInTheLibrary@transportationlibraryAny content with a bicycle (or any cycle?)
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#LibraryFeast and #WhatsCookinWednesday@kpeck1916Food, recipes
Each week followed a particular prompt
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June#BoatsInTheLibraryIllustrations of boats of all kinds
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#LibraryPoolParty@unlvspeccollImages and illustrations of swimming, pools
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#LibraryLoveIsLoveIsLove / WeekOfROYGBIV@transportationlibrary
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July#HatsInTheLibrary@americanantiquarian@sfplbookartsShare your millinery - hats of all kinds
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August#BookPlateSpecial@rutgers_scua@sfplbookarts@archibrarianBook plates and ex libris from your personal or institutional collection
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September#TheWritingHandKnows@sfplbookarts, @transportationlibrary, and @americanantiquarian
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October#PageFrights@biodivlibrary; @nyamhistory;@yalemedhistlib;@silibraries
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November#LibraryTurkeyTrot
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#RainbowsInTheLibrary@rarebkcat@um_spec_coll@archibrarian
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December#LibraryWonderland@jordan_library
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2017
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January#StyleInTheStacks@byuspeccoll
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February#JustTheTicket@sfplbookartsBookbinders' tickets, booksellers' stamps, see ABC for Book Collectors
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#LoveFromTheArchives@austinhistorycenter@ransomcenter@cnlibrarian
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March#BoringButBeautiful@nul_prescons@transportationlibrary@utsaspeccoll
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#GirlsTalkSTEM@bplmaps@harvardmaps@americanantiquarian, @biodivlibrary, @silibraries, @cnlibrarian, @archibrarian, @annielauriesbooks, @sfplbookarts
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April#WesternWednesdays@gerberhart
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May#VisionsOfTheFuture@nul_prescons
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#OverThereWorld War I centennial related
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June#FantasticBeastsInTheLibrary@uispeccollmythological creatures
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#StoriesWeTell@um_spec_coll; @archibrarian; @americanantiquarian; @suspeccollIn conjunction with #RBMS17 conference theme
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July#LibraryGetaway@rutgers_scua@byuspeccoll
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August#BoatsInTheLibrary@annielauriesbooks@archibrarianreprisal of 2016 challenge
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#AwesomeLetterhead@austinhistorycenter@kansascity.archives (as @history_in_docs)letterhead, stationery
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September#TreatsInTheLibrary@unlvspeccoll@utsaspeccolldesserts
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#VintageLibrary@pittarchives
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October#BookGuts@um_spec_coll @sfplbookarts @americanantiquarian @byuspeccoll
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November#WorkInLibraries@rutgers_scua and @utsaspeccoll
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December#PartyInTheLibrary@nul_prescons@transportationlibrary
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2018
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January#LibraryWonderland@jordan_libraryWinter scenes; snow; frost; etc.
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February#LoveInTheLibrary (Wednesdays);
#LoveInTheArchives (Wednesdays)		@hofstraspecialcollections;
@austinhistorycenter		show us your takes on #love! Whether it be in #letters, #photographs, #books, or any other format you might choose, we’re dying to see whatever you have to share. 
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#FightOppression (Thursdays)@IULillyLibraryan opportunity for libraries to showcase material that promotes social justice and to celebrate collections from underrepresented or oppressed minorities.
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#LibraryOlympics@timetravelerpostcards@jordan_libraryshare winter sports themed materials during the month
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March#ShoesInTheLibrary@fugitivepigments@nul_prescons @rickerlibraryuiFootwear
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April#MapsInTheLibrary@transportationlibrary@newberrylibrary
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#BookBouquets@loynosca post floral book covers throughout April in celebration of Spring!
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May#librarydreams and #DontLetTheBookwormsBite (Wednesdays)@rarebkcat@americanantiquarian (?)It's finals time, and you're spending a lot of time in the library. Who hasn't wanted to curl up for a little nap in the stacks? Share your sleepy tales: dreamy books; bedtime stories; caffeinated content; favorite snoozy locales; and more....
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#MayFlowers (Thursdays)@sutrolibrary
on Twitter and FB, too!		April showers bring #MayFlowers! Time to share your archival flowers and bouquets, but don’t forget Mayflower pilgrims, advertisements for flour, even people named Flower wearing flowers. Let’s shower social media with beautiful archival flowers
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June#LibraryLoveIsLove@transportationlibrary@sfplbookartsJune 4-10: seven days of rainbow bindings in celebration of Pride.
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Wednesdays: #JuneDogs #WetNoseWednesday@utsaspeccoll@archival.pupsTime for the dog days of summer? Prepare your best doggos and share, every Wednesday in June! 12/10 would pet. V good Instagrams.
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July#JoyOfGLAM@rarebkcat@rutgers_scuaFellow lovers, denizens, and wanderers of galleries, libraries, archives, and museums, share what brings you joy, whether it’s the comfiest chair in the stacks, a sculpture makes you smile, a letter that touches you, a sketch that brings you calm, or the snazziest specimen in the collection. Share the joy of your colleagues and your collections, your buildings and your benches -- whatever brings joy to your day! FAQ: I’m glamorous but don’t work in galleries, libraries, archives, or museums -- can I play? Yes! Please join us! The challenge is open to all, GLAM-folks and GLAM-lovers and GLAM-visitors and the GLAM-adjacent -- to quote Shel Silverstein, come in, come in.
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August#BalladOfTheBook and #MusicInTheLibrary@byuspeccolla challenge showcasing music – ballads, lullabys, hymns, psalms, chants, and other music
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September#NotHiddenLabor@utsaspeccoll@transportationlibrary@laborarchiveswaPlease join @utsaspeccoll, @laborarchiveswa and @transportation in the September #librariesofInstagram challenge #nothiddenlabor, as we cellebrate all aspects of the American and International labor movements, trade unions, workers, farmers and the too often hidden labor of library, archive and museum workers.
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October#SpineTingling@pemlibrary@um_spec_collThis hashtag is to encourage libraries to show off their most
spectacular, intricate, and weird book spines, as well as skeleton/spine
images, and any other spine-related riffs
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November#LibraryHarvest@rickerlibrary@nul_presconsFall- and harvest- related collections highlights
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December#LibraryWonderland (ALL MONTH LONG!)@iglibraries"Whatever your winter wonderland is, whether that is snow or being pool side, or the challenge can be the wonderful services the library/archive have to offer this time of year"
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2019
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January#BuildingBlocks@iglibraries@hofstraspecialcollectionsBooks are the foundation of what brings this community together, but we also have amazing buildings! Show off your spaces, share your magnificent architectural holdings, from drawings and archival materials to monographs. Build something out of books? Why not? (Just be careful.)
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February#AFineLibraryRomance@sfplbookarts@americanantiquarianCelebrate all the things you love about libraries, archives, special collections, books, bookselling, and/or even your personal library romance stories! Isn't it romantic?
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March#HerNaturalHistory@biodivlibraryCelebrating women in natural history all month long for the March, starting March 8. Use #hernaturalhistory to share your collections
highlighting women in natural history, from publications and archival materials to artworks, collection objects, and more!
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April#LambsInTheLibrary@unlvspeccoll
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May#MagnificentCollections@silibrariesShare the magnificent/odd/unusual collectors and collections that make your library unique! Our exhibition "Magnificent Obsessions: Why We Collect" is a celebration of the book collectors whose passions helped build our 21 branches. We'd love to hear about the unique collections in other libraries and the collectors who put them together!
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June#PeakOfOurCollections@johncarterbrownlibraryViews of mountains and volcanoes are scattered throughout maps, sketches, and illustrations in our collection. These topographic features often loom in the background of such works which undermines their influence in shaping people’s relationships to the environment. Join us this month in highlighting the role of mountains and volcanoes in shaping cultural traditions, city planning, and more!
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#LibraryLoveIsLove@transportationlibraryJUNE 3-7 ONLY
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July#BugginOut@sutrolibrary
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August#ToolsOfTheLibraryTrade@uflib @miamioh.specWho doesn’t love an opportunity to look behind the scenes? This August, we challenge you to show off the #ToolsOfTheLibraryTrade that are indispensable to our work but are probably less flashy than your collections. We want to see your carts, book snakes, conservation items, boxes, digitization tools, fancy shelving, and more! This @iglibraries #WednesdayChallenge is thanks to our hosts @uflib and @miamioh.spec.
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September#LibraryBookArt@rutgers_scuaTBA
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October#SpineTingling@pemlibrary@um_spec_collThis hashtag is to encourage libraries to show off their most
spectacular, intricate, and weird book spines, as well as skeleton/spine
images, and any other spine-related riffs
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November#LibraryLeaves@miamioh.spec@iglibraries #ChallengeAlert! Please join us on Wednesdays this November for the @iglibraries #LibraryLeaves, a celebration of all things foliage! Interpret it any way you choose: loose pages, fall and spring aesthetics, botany collections, or even folio sized books! We can't wait to see what falls our way with this challenge!
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December#LibraryWonderland@stolaf_libraries@jordan_library#IGLibraries Wednesdays in December Challenge Alert! Along with our friends up North @jordan_library, we're asking the #LibrariesOfInstagram to share posts to fit our theme, #LibraryWonderland. Let it snow! Or let there be sunshine! We want to see what wintry, wondrous, collections and archives you have!⁠
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2020
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January#OutOfThisWorld@paulrobesonlibrary@rutgers_scua#OutOfThisWorld and participants can share any books dealing with
outer space: astronauts, planets, rocket ships, solar systems, classic
science fiction, UFOs, aliens, etc. would all be
perfectly acceptable. The sky is the limit! (pun intended).
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February#LibraryBlackHistory@iglibraries@nuarchivesCelebrating contributions by and representation of African-Americans in libraries, archives, our workforces, and our collections!
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March#HometownHeroes@unrspc
#HometownHeroes, celebrating each institution’s holdings from the local community and featuring local notables, contemporary, historical, non-human, or even fictional.
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April#BlastFromTheLibraryPast(none)(none)Revisit your favorite posts from the past! Share collection highlights, review posts from previous #ChallengeWednesdays, highlight resources that can be accessed remotely!
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May#CollectionsFromHome@tuspeccoll@um_spec_collWhile we work from home and serve patrons remotely, let's take time to explore and share #CollectionsFromHome
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JuneBeginning with institutional shutdowns in March 2020 related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as #LibrariesOfInstagram had decreased access to collections, no montly challenges were held from May 2020 to September 2020. In response to #BlackLivesMatter equality and justice activism, it was likewise determined that no monthly challenges be held during this time.
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July
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August
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September
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October#ElectionCollection (TUESDAYS)@rutgers_scuaShare politics-related materials from your institution or personal collection, TUESDAYS through Election Day!
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November
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December#Pigvent and #ChristmasPigs@rabelaisbooksEvery day in December, through December 25, share holiday materials with pigs!
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2021
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January#NewYearNewCollection@MiamiOHSpecialCollectionsHighlighting acquisitions and new donations to your institutional or personal collection! Every Wednesday!
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February#BlackHistory247 #BlackHistory247365