Arthur and DW celebrate Library Card Sign Up Month

Contact: Paige Wasson/Larra Clark


312-280-4394/5043

ALA News Release


For Immediate Release


July 2001

Arthur™ and D.W.™ celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month

This year D.W. joins her brother, Arthur, star of Marc Brown's best-selling children's book series and the #1 children's television series, in helping the American Library Association (ALA) celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month. Arthur and D.W. want to remind children across the country that "Having Fun Isn't Hard When You've Got a Library Card."

D.W. will be featured in a soon-to-be-released book, "D.W.'s Library Card" (Little, Brown and Co.). When D.W. discovers that she can get her own library card, she rejoices at the world of books waiting for her.

Celebrated throughout the month of September, National Library Card Sign-Up Month encourages people to check out what's new at their library by signing up for a library card. Libraries today offer more than just books - they have videos, CDs, computers, Internet access and more. Libraries are also dynamic community centers; many have coffee shops, homework centers, book discussion exhibits, musical performances, story hours and other programs for children and adults.

The
Library Card Sign-Up Month Web site has added new activities including information on How To Host An Amazing Arthur and D.W. Library Card Sign-Up Event @ your library™, How to Use the @ your library™ Card, how to put on a performance of "D.W. Gets Her Library Card," lots of clip art and arts and crafts.

Observed since 1987, Library Card Sign-Up Month is a time when the ALA and libraries across the country remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all. Studies show that children who are read to in the home and who use the library perform better in school and are more likely to continue to use the library as a source of lifetime learning.