Celebrate World Mushroom Day with Your Library

World Mushroom Day is October 15—and NAMA’s Education Committee is inviting mushroom clubs to help their communities celebrate.

Libraries are trusted centers for education and community connection, making them natural partners for introducing more people to the fascinating world of fungi. NAMA’s Education Committee encourages affiliated clubs to contact their local libraries and offer to collaborate on a mushroom-themed display, program, presentation, or reading list.

Libraries often schedule programs months in advance, so we encourage clubs to begin reaching out now.

How Your Club Can Participate

Start by contacting a public or community library in your area. Introduce your club, explain that World Mushroom Day is October 15, and ask whether the library would be interested in working together.

Possible activities include:

• Creating a display of books about fungi, mycology, foraging, and forest ecology
• Sharing a curated mushroom reading list
• Hosting an introductory presentation about fungi
• Offering a family-friendly mushroom program or activity
• Presenting a talk on local fungal diversity or ecology
• Sharing educational graphics or other resources
• Introducing community members to your local mushroom club

Your club does not have to organize a large event. A small book display, resource table, or social media collaboration can still help more people discover the importance of fungi.

Why Celebrate Fungi?

Fungi are neither plants nor animals. They form their own biological kingdom and play essential roles in ecosystems and human society.

World Mushroom Day offers an opportunity to:

• Build awareness of fungi’s role as decomposers and ecological partners
• Introduce the public to fungal biodiversity
• Replace common fears and misconceptions with reliable information
• Explore fungi’s uses in food, medicine, sustainability, and emerging technologies
• Inspire future mycologists, researchers, and environmental professionals
• Encourage safe mushroom education, including the importance of not relying on artificial intelligence to identify mushrooms for consumption

Together, NAMA’s affiliated clubs and community libraries can make trustworthy mushroom education more accessible.

→Library Outreach Email Template

Subject: Celebrate World Mushroom Day with [Club Name]

Dear [Librarian Name or Library Team],

My name is [Name], and I’m a member of [Club Name], a local affiliate of the North American Mycological Association.

World Mushroom Day is October 15, and we would love to help [Library Name] introduce the community to the fascinating and important world of fungi.

Depending on your library’s interests and schedule, we may be able to help with:

• A mushroom-themed book or educational display
• A recommended reading list
• A presentation or community program
• Educational resources about fungi and local mushroom diversity

We would be happy to discuss an option that fits your library’s space, audience, and programming needs. Would you be interested in collaborating with us this fall?

Thank you for everything you do for our community!

[Name]
[Club Name]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number, optional