National library card sign-up month

Library Director Debra Rhodes Gibson reported to Historic City News that the St. Johns County Public Library System is celebrating September as National Library Card Sign-up Month to ensure all residents of St. Johns County have the smartest card of all – a library card.

Activities at branch libraries and bookmobiles will include new preschool and toddler storytimes, teen and adult programs, as well as fun photo shoots to create READ images to be posted online.

The public READ poster campaign invites patrons to come to the library September 1-3 to have their photo taken with a favorite book. Library staff will then turn the photos into READ poster photos like the ones commonly seen in libraries featuring famous authors, sports stars, actors and other celebrities. All photos will be posted on the library’s website www.sjcpls.org and the library’s Flickr photo site.

Everyone is invited to bring a favorite book or check one out at the library and have their photo taken with this schedule:

Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library – Tuesday, September 1st, 10:00 am – noon
Hastings Branch Library – Tuesday, September 1st, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Southeast Branch Library – Wednesday, September 2nd, 10:00 am – noon
Main Library in St. Augustine – Wednesday, September 2nd, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Bartram Trail Branch Library – Thursday, September 3rd, 10:00 am – noon
Anastasia Island Branch Library – Thursday, September 3rd, 2:00 – 4:00 pm

The importance of having a library card has been supported through multiple studies showing children who are read to in the home and use the library perform better in school and are more likely to use the library as a lifetime source of learning.

“A library card has always been the most important school supply of all,” said Library System Director Debra Rhodes Gibson. “Kids can come to the library to get homework help and check out books, as well as play games, check out music, movies and audio books, and use the internet to have after-school fun.”

Now more than ever people are turning to their local library for reliable financial information, free computer and internet access, books, movies and remote resources such as databases, homework help links and more. In St. Johns County libraries over the past year, material circulation has increased nearly 21 percent, with library branches and the bookmobiles offering 27 percent more programs, despite reduced hours and staffing. Added Gibson, “Plenty of great activities are happening at the St. Johns County Public Library System, and the best part for St. Johns County residents is that it’s all free with a library card.”

Getting a library card is easy by presenting photo identification verifying name and address within St. Johns County. For more information or to learn about September activities, visit any library, call 827-6925