Promote Library Card Sign-up Month with free tools

CHICAGO — Celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month with new downloadable tools and public service announcements (PSAs) designed to promote the benefits of Library Card Sign-up Month to the public.

Sample media tools are available to remind the public of all the resources available for free with a library card.  According to a Pew Internet & American Life study, 96 percent of Americans agree that not only do libraries promote a literacy and a love of reading, but today’s libraries provide tech resources and access to materials and a majority view libraries as leaders in technology.

To download free promotional materials, visit www.ala.org/librarycardsignup. Tools include a sample press release, op-ed, proclamation, PSA scripts and radio quality PSAs.

Legendary comic creator Stan Lee will serve as the Honorary Chair of Library Card Sign-up Month in September. 

“Having a library card,  it’s like having a key to all the information in the world. When you have a library card you can read anything about anything, and I have found that whatever you read, it doesn’t matter, it increases your fund of knowledge,” says Lee. “So a library card is the ‘Open Sesame” to all the knowledge in the world.”

A voracious reader from an early age, Lee recalls that if it hadn’t been for libraries he could never have afforded all the books he wanted to read. This September, Lee encourages every child to sign up for the most important school supply of all, a library card – the key to  knowledge and a life-long love of reading.

Librarians looking to promote Library Card Sign-up Month locally can download a public service announcement (PSA) featuring Lee at www.ala.org/librarycardsignup. Free customization is available.

Members of the public are encouraged to share stories of how they use their library card to learn, explore and relax. In honor of Honorary Chair Stan Lee, this year library users are encouraged to create a comic book-inspired selfie showing why they value their library card. Library users can share on social media using the hashtag #LibraryCardSignUp. Everyone who participates will be entered into a drawing to win a comic book prize package. Details of the promotion and templates for Library Card Sign-up Month word balloons are also available at www.ala.org/librarycardsignup.

Library Card Sign-up Month is a time when libraries across the country remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all. Thousands of public and school libraries join together each fall in a national effort to ensure every child signs up for their own library card.

The Campaign for America’s is Libraries is the ALA’s public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians.  Thousands of libraries of all types – across the country and around the globe - use the Campaign’s @ your library® brand. The Campaign is made possible in part by ALA’s Library Champions.