Nation’s libraries to celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month

Megan McFarlane


Campaign Coordinator


312-280-2148


mmcfarlane@ala.org

NEWS


For Immediate Release


August 19, 2008

CHICAGO - This September, the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries throughout the country will celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month. It is a time when libraries remind parents and caregivers to bring their school-age children to the library to get the most important school supply of all – a library card.





“ALA’s Campaign for America’s Libraries has collected stories to share the scope and creative work developed by librarians on behalf of Library Card Sign-up Month. These efforts promote the idea that libraries improve school-age children’s ability to perform academically and discover a world of opportunity,” said Megan Humphrey, manager of The Campaign for America’s Libraries.

Here are some examples of libraries participating:

Willingboro Public Library, Willingboro, N.J., pairs library card registration with actual school supplies to promote Library Card Sign-up Month. Children who visit the library in September and register for a card are able to select a bottle of glue, scissors, a pack of pencils or a notebook.

Greenville County Library System, Greenville, S.C., is hosting the 2008 Card Rally in honor of Library Card Sign-up Month. The rally will kick off Sept. 6, with events designed to educate the community about all the library has to offer. Limited-edition library card designs will be available to new patrons, who will be entered into a drawing for prizes, including an iPod nano and a "green" library bag full of surprise items.

At the
Clive Public Library, Clive, Iowa, all children who sign-up for their first library card will receive a Demco character bag, pencil, eraser and stickers. Photographs will be taken of children holding their new cards, which will be placed on the library bulletin board with the banner, “I got carded at the Clive Public Library.”

“The children are so proud and excited to hold up their library cards and have their picture taken,” said youth services librarian Suzy Piel.

Lake Agassiz Regional Library, Moorhead, Minn., will present each library card registrant with a card holder and a library welcome packet at each of its 23 locations. Packets include a list of the top-10 ways to save money at the library. Registrants will also be encouraged to take a photo holding a giant library card. The library will convert these images into READ posters.

At the
Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Topeka, Kan., all library card registrants will be entered into a drawing for five $25 gift certificates to the Chandler Booktique, the library’s bookstore and gift shop. The library’s monthly newsletter details why a library card is not only the most important school supply but also a great way to save money.

For more information, visit
http://ilovelibraries.org/librarycard/. Librarians can obtain tools to promote Library Card Sign-up Month by going to
www.ala.org/librarycardsignup.

The Campaign for America's Libraries is the ALA's public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians. For more information on the Campaign visit
www.ala.org/@yourlibrary.

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