September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when Handley Regional Library System joins the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide to remind the communities they serve about the critical importance of libraries and having a library card. This year, the library system is focusing on highlighting services that support students and families learning at home due to COVID-19, along with several community initiatives including resources for career and business, the 24/7 Digital Library, virtual programs for all ages, and at-home entertainment options – all free with your library card. You can apply for a library card at www.handleyregional.org/librarycard.
“This is one of the most important advocacy months for us now more than ever,” says John Huddy, Director of Handley Regional Library System. “Our entire service area of more than 130,000 patrons is impacted by the pandemic, and we have a duty to respond to meet the needs of our community with relevant library programs and services. If you are a student learning at home, you can borrow a T-Mobile hotspot device for free internet for a week. If you are searching for a job, we have a wealth of career resources for interview and resume help in our 24/7 Digital Library. There’s so much – remote printing with pick-up at the library, online streaming of movies, new video games – the list goes on. If you’ve never had a library card, or haven’t used your card in a while, now is the time to get a card and use it. Let us help you during this time.”
Normally during this busy month library staff members are out in the community at outreach events and helping a high volume of patrons inside the buildings.
“We are going to rely on a lot of digital campaigns, PSAs, and social media to get the word out,” adds Matt Swain, Public Relations Manager for Handley Regional Library System. “The past few months have looked different for everyone, but we want the public to know Handley Regional Library System will always be here to help.”
This year, DC’s Wonder Woman is embarking on a mission to champion the power of a library card as Library Card Sign-up Month Honorary Chair through a campaign from the ALA. The public can expect to see some imagery focused around Wonder Woman and featured plans including promotion of Nintendo Switch Games, an update on a DVD donation program by the Alamo Drafthouse Film Club, announcements about the improvement of the hotspot checkout program, an author talk on hiking (9/3), a two-part series on publishing and writing tips (9/10 and 9/17), several book talks for teens, a workshop on Reference USA (a business research tool in the Digital Library), remote printing, and more.
For more information, contact the public relations department at mswain@handleyregional.org or visit www.handleyregional.org.