When many of us were growing up, there was an incredibly important item on our back-to-school supply list: The Library Card. With our library cards, we were able to pursue answers to questions that may have eluded us during our time in school, learn how to construct things that interested us, or simply seek a new favorite story to fall into. Besides fueling a love of reading, having a library card let us feel ownership of our choices, taught us responsibility, and gave us access to anything we ever dreamed of learning or experiencing.

Library Card Sign-Up Month was established to encourage every generation to dive into the wonders of the library by signing up for their own library card. Every September, the St. Johns County Public Library System joins with the American Library Association to promote the value of the public library card during our annual National Library Card Sign-Up campaign.

The library card is a small but mighty tool in your wallet. At a permanent cost of zero dollars, the library card unlocks a world of information, reading and viewing material, and there is something for everyone, regardless of stage of life. Parents of the earliest readers can use their library card to explore read-alongs and picture books online through OverDrive or the Libby app. Students may want to check out our homework help database, Brainfuse HelpNow, which utilizes a graphic interface to aid the research needs of students in kindergarten through grade 5. Adults can explore other languages and cultures through fiction, travel guides, and online language learning. Your library card also means you will never again be stuck in an airport or waiting room without something to read: thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, and eMagazines are available for free, anywhere, anytime with your library card.

Throughout the month of September, SJCPLS will offer special events and promotions in celebration of National Library Card Sign-Up Month. One such promotion includes our partnership with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra! All SJCPLS library card holders can receive a discount of 20% on select concerts during the 2022 – 2023 season! If you have a particular question or special interest, you might find our Living Library program on September 25 of interest, where we use the library analogy of lending people rather than books to offer in-depth insight and expertise in specific topics.

I hope you will help us spread the word about the value of libraries. Ask your friends if they have library cards. If not, let them know what the library does for you and how they can open up their own worlds through a simple library card. With six library locations throughout St. Johns County, and two travelling bookmobiles, you are sure to find a library near you. Stop in and get a library card!