News Report #2

“Nation’s libraries to celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month”
Megan McFarlane, American Library Association
08/25/09
http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2009/august2009/lcsumstories_pio.cfm

During the month of September, the American Library Association and other libraries throughout the country are going to be celebrating Library Card Sign-up Month. This will be a time to remind and encourage parents to get their children a library card. When children start school they should most definitely have a library card. A library card should be considered a child’s most important school supply. The Yuma Arizona County Library District is partnering with a local radio station to promote Library Card Sign-up Month. The library’s community relations manager will have a 3-minute interview and their will be a thirty second public service announcement. The Wauconda Illinois Area Library District will partner with local businesses and library users can receive discounts at over sixty local businesses when they show their library card. The Fresno California Country Library used its summer reading program, Be creative @ your library, with Library Card Sign-up Month. Children were asked to be creative and design their own library card. The winning submission will be used on cards in September. These are just a few ways different libraries are promoting Library Card Sign-up Month.
I think this is an awesome idea! I personally do not think libraries are used as much as they should be. I know growing up my mom got me a library card right away and I loved just going and checking out books each week and also participating in programs the library offered for children. I attended many workshops at the library growing up learning everything about the library and how to use it. I also volunteered as a library assistant one summer and would go to the library each day for a few hours and help out where I was most needed. I used the library frequently and I think other children should take advantage of all the opportunities that libraries offer. I think by promoting Library Card Sign-up Month will help bring more children in and hopefully more parents will want to get their children cards. My library card was free and if they still are there is no excuse not to have one and take advantage of all the library offers.