September 2019 - EASTERN OREGON PARENT - 7
It’s Christmas in September with a new library card!
By JENNIFER COSTLEY
(a.k.a. SANTABRARIAN)
September is Library Card Sign
Up Month, though I am sure I
didn’t have to remind you of that.
For most American Library Asso-
ciation families, Library Card Sign
Up Month is right up there with
Christmas. Children and adults
alike count down the days until
the Jolly Librarian comes shoosting
down their chimney. You’ll know
me when you see me, for I wear a
red cardigan, and sensible shoes,
my Summer Reading Program tote
filled to the brim with library card
applications.
For those who have yet to cel-
ebrate the reason for the season,
may this article be the introduction
you’ve been waiting for. You’ll only
ever have one first Library Card Sign
Up Month.
You might be asking yourself why
in the age of the internet, smart-
phones, and television streaming,
a person would even need a library
card. Questions like that will get
you a Polar Express ticket to the
naughty list, but for the purpose of
this article I will answer.
Public libraries provide internet
access for those who do not have
it at home. And often, you can
check out laptops or internet
hotspots using your library
card.
But streaming, Santabrar-
ian! What about streaming?
Many libraries offer stream-
ing services for music and
video. Those that don’t likely
still check out movies, and
if your library belongs to a
consortium like the 77 library
powerhouse that is the Sage
System, then the movies,
music, and other items avail-
able to you are not limited
to your local library. Being a
cardholder grants you access
to all 77 collections. Incred-
ible, I know!
So, how do you get a
library card? It’s simple. Grab
a photo ID and something to prove
your address. A recent bill or your
driver’s license will work if the
address is current. Next, step into
your hometown library. Libraries in
Eastern Oregon are funded by prop-
erty taxes so you will need to have
your card issued in the city where
you live. Once you have that plastic
passport to the world of knowledge
you’re free to check out all sorts of
things. For example, did you know
you can check out ebooks and
audiobooks on your phone? You
can with a library card. Museum
Passes and American Girl Dolls? You
got it. See, I told you it was just like
Christmas!
Speaking of ways to con your
kids into being good all year, your
child, five and under, can get a
library card too! Using a Ready-
2Learn library card enters your child
into a monthly drawing for awe-
some, educational gift packs. There
is truly something for everyone.
Except pets. Don’t bring your
dog to the library.
My guess is you are al-
ready halfway to the library,
but in the unlikely event that
none of the aforementioned
perks were enough to woo
you in our direction, there
is always this cold, hard, gift
card incentive.
The American Library
Association will be awarding
a $100 Amazon gift card to
one lucky September library
card user. All you have to do
to be entered is snap a pic of
you and your library card us-
ing the hashtag #getlibrary-
carded on either Twitter or
Instagram. The contest runs
from September 1 to 22, so
you have plenty of time to get your
first card, get a new card, or dig out
your old one.
Looking forward to celebrating
with you this September.
XOXO
Santabrarian
________
Jennifer Costley is director of the
Pendleton Public Library and moth-
er of two. Just don’t tell them she’s
Santabrarian.
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