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September is National Library Card Sign-up Month!

, , , , | August 28, 2023
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September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month

Libraries are an essential element of our daily lives! Did you know there are over 123,000 libraries in the U.S.? Over 9,000 of those are public libraries. September is Library Card Sign-up Month. Discover the resources available to everyone with a YDL card! Use our easy, online application to get started at ypsilibrary.org/library-cards.

History of National Library Card Sign-Up Month

The campaign started in 1987 as a response to then Secretary of Education William Bennett, who stated, “Let’s have a campaign … Every child should obtain a library card and use it.” Read a detailed account in this 2015 blog post at the American Library Association Archives, A Library Card for Every Child: Library Card Sign-Up Month, by Cara Bertram.

Library card sign-up month bingo card
Tell ALA how you “library” for a chance at a prize

Do you love the library’s summer reading program, storytime, or book  club? Checking out DVDs, magazines, or cake pans? Do you simply enjoy getting lost in the magic of a good book? Share how you make the most of your library card with ALA!

Participating is easy:

  • Snap a pic or shoot a video showcasing what you love about the library or choose a library element that best applies to you.
  • Post to Instagram, X, or on the I Love Libraries Facebook page with the hashtag #HowILibrary.
  • Tag your library and your friends to help spread the word!

What’s in it for you? In addition to the gratification of supporting libraries, there’s also a chance to win great prizes. One randomly selected winner will receive a $150 gift card, and three second-place winners will receive a poster of their choice from the ALA Store.

Download coloring pages

Click on the images here to download coloring pages based on the new Disney movie Elemental.

Quotes about how libraries empower

More Info

Click here for more information about Library Card Signup Month and activities you can participate in.

Sign Up for a Library Card

Click here for more information on the types of library cards you can sign up for at YDL and what you need to get one. Use our easy, online library card sign up form.