A Library Card Hits All the Right Notes: Celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month this September

When was the last time you stopped into the library? If it’s been a while, September is the perfect time to come back! Every September is Library Card Sign Up Month, where libraries highlight the benefits of having a card. The American Library Association, choosing September to mark the beginning of the school year, started the initiative in 1987.

This year, our libraries are offering some extra incentives for new patrons signing up for a card: a welcome kit including a bag/tote, book, and other swag. Whether you’re new to our library or it’s been a few years and your card has lapsed, we’d love for you to sign up and take advantage of our services!

To sign up, all you need is a valid photo ID with current address. If your ID doesn’t have your current address, you can bring in a piece of postmarked mail with your name and address. For those under the age of 18, a parent or guardian will need to be present with their photo ID to sign for the card. Children can get a library card starting at the age of 5 or if they’re in kindergarten.

So what exactly does your card get you? The obvious answer – books! We have print books, large print, book-on-CD, Playaways, graphic novels, manga, and digital. We have books for all ages. And, we also have the ability to bring in books from other libraries around the state through our consortium, SEO Libraries. SEO is a shared catalog of over 200 libraries to borrow from, so whatever book you’re looking for, you can likely find it.

The library offers so much more beyond books. We have movies and TV shows; borrow DVDs and Blu-ray discs or stream through hoopla and Kanopy. You can try out a wide variety of video games across multiple platforms. For those family gatherings, or just a night in, we have collections of lawn games and board games. Spend a day at Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museum or Schedel Arboretum & Gardens with our museum passes. Pick up a new hobby with our collection of cake pans, birding kits, fishing rods, and scrapbooking tools. And for those in need of internet connection – whether it’s at home or on the go – we have Wi-Fi hotspots available for borrow.

And it’s not just what you can borrow; we have spaces for quiet study, meeting rooms to use, and a play area for the kids. All three of our locations have their own StoryWalk, a space where you can get some exercise while reading a story as you make your way through. All locations have computers available for public use, along with printing, faxing, copying, and Wi-Fi. If you need an item notarized, check with one of our locations! Just make sure to call ahead to make sure one of our notaries is available. We even have an option for our patrons unable to make it into the library due to being homebound to borrow materials.

Plus, we offer events for all ages. From crafts to games and even talks on local history, there’s something for everyone. Did you know our Port Clinton location had a monthly Spice Club? No need to sign up or do anything other than stop in during the scheduled week and pick up a kit. Each kit has a featured spice with information and history on it, 3 recipes using the recipe, and a sample to use in the recipes provided.

If you haven’t been to the library in a while or if you never stopped in, now is the time to check out what we offer!