Bibliomania Day is an annual holiday dedicated to bibliomania. It’s a real book addiction: people spend a lot of money and may even commit illegal acts to fulfill the single purpose of getting a book. This is an extreme form of hoarding and collecting, which can also have a negative impact on a person’s mental health. Be careful, too much love for books can be dangerous! The holiday is on March 20.
History
The history of Bibliomania Day keeps the name of a real bibliomaniac in the public memory – Stephen Bloomberg. This man devoted his entire life to collecting books and more than once organized major theft ventures, which resulted in the removal of rare specimens from stores, libraries, and museums. It was on March 20, 1990, that Stephen was caught by the FBI, as information about him was passed on to the intelligence agencies by a friend of his.
Some researchers classify bibliomania as a mental disorder because the urge to accumulate books becomes a tough addiction. If a person doesn’t get what they want, they get depressed and despondent.
Interesting facts
- Stephen Bloomberg is the greatest book thief. During his career of more than two decades, he stole about 23,000 rare books and about 10,000 manuscripts.
- The total value of the books Bloomberg stole was $5.3 million.
- The exact cause of bibliomania is unknown. Psychologists believe that the problem is a defense mechanism of the person, which developed earlier as a response to a negative situation.
How to celebrate
If you simply love collecting books, then Bibliomania Day is a great excuse to buy some new copies. Devote your free time to reading. Try your hand at other genres; maybe you can discover new authors whose work you like.
Spread the word on social media. Ask other users if they like to read or collect books.
When is Bibliomania Day in 2025?
Bibliomania Day is observed on March 20 each year.
Observations
Weekday | Month | Day | Year |
Thursday | March | 20 | 2025 |
Friday | March | 20 | 2026 |
Saturday | March | 20 | 2027 |
Monday | March | 20 | 2028 |
Tuesday | March | 20 | 2029 |