Library Lines: September is Library Sign-up Month
“The library is where your imagination sings. Get your library card and 'check it out' today." — Cara Mentzel
“Let’s have a campaign. … Every child should obtain a library card and use it.” — William Bennett, former Secretary of Education
In 1987, then Secretary of Education William Bennett inspired a national campaign to “emphasize the importance of library cards to a child’s education and to combat illiteracy” (ALA.org). Through Bennett’s actions, the month of September has since become known as Library Card Sign-Up Month! Afterall, as Bennett said, “Every child should obtain a library card and use it.”
Naturally, the best way to celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month is to do just that — get a library card if you do not already have one! And if you do, use your card to check out your next book, magazine, audiobook or movie to enjoy.
Don’t forget, your Cheboygan Area Public Library card is also your ticket to thousands of online/digital services through OverDrive/Libby, Kanopy, Consumer Reports Online, and many other resources through the Michigan eLibrary Collection! If you are unfamiliar with these, be sure to visit cheboyganlibrary.org, click on the “Looking For” drop down list, and select “Your Digital Library” for a drop-down list of these resources and more. You can also stop by the Library anytime and a staff member can share all the wonderful features of these online services.
If you don’t have a library card, let us help you get one! Getting a library card is a simple process, just bring in proof of your address such as a utility bill or driver’s license that shows that you live in the district. The Cheboygan Area Public Library District includes the City of Cheboygan and the Townships of Aloha, Beaugrand, Benton, Grant, Inverness and portions of Hebron and Munro. Then the library staff will have you fill out a short form with your contact information and will get you a card.
Even if you don’t come into Cheboygan often, a Cheboygan Area Public Library card can be used at any PAC2 library! Plus, it can be used online for all the digital services such as OverDrive, and Kanopy.
Kids can even have their own library card! A parent just needs to come into the library and fill out and sign a form with contact information and permission and their child of any age can have their own library card! It is a great way to give kids accountability and responsibility for the items they want to check out. And it can also give kids a sense of how useful a library can be at any age and encourage library use as they grow.
During September (and all year round too!) be sure to encourage your friends and family to visit their local library and get a library card! And speaking of friends, the Friends of the Cheboygan Area Public Library will be holding one of their quarterly meetings at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13, if anyone is interested in meeting them. There is no pressure to join the group, just feel free to come and see what the Friends of the Library are up to and what they do for the library.
Please note, the Cheboygan Area Public Library will be closed in observance of Labor Day on Sept. 5.
— Emily Clare is program director of the Cheboygan Area Public Library.
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Library Lines: September is Library Sign-up Month
