September is Library Card Sign-up Month
The value of today’s libraries goes beyond books. Librarians are leaders in their communities – helping people of any age to find what they need to help improve their quality of life. This September, the CLAMS Library Network is joining with the American Library Association and libraries nationwide for Library Card Sign-up Month, an initiative to make sure that every student has the most important school supply of all – a free library card.
Libraries build a foundation for children’s future success starting from the earliest stages of development. Librarians play a key role in helping children develop the basic tools for school readiness by teaching families the components of early literacy. As of 2010, children’s programs accounted for nearly two thirds of library programming in the United States, with more than 2.3 million children’s programs nationwide. Older students can also find tools for success at their local libraries, where they can access high-speed Internet and digital tools, as well as working with trained professionals on how best to use these resources.
As new technologies evolve, libraries continue to lead the way in providing equity of access to digital tools and media, which has become increasingly important in high-poverty areas where students are less likely to have a computer or internet service at home. Close to 90 percent of libraries offer digital literacy training to help students of all ages navigate today’s changing world; many also offer high-tech innovations like laser cutters and 3D printers, providing hands-on opportunities for creative exploration.
Transform your school year with a free CLAMS library card.
For more information about how to sign up for a library card, visit https://library.clamsnet.org/selfreg
