National Library Card Sign-up Month
By: Colleen | September 03, 2008 | Category: General
"Having fun isn't hard when you have a library card..."
Scanning my home bookshelves recently, I realized that I've spent an awful lot of money on books. Granted, my shoe collection is a much more frivolous expense, but I probably don't need to OWN some of the chicklit (cringe!) that is overcrowding my shelves.
Since I still need to drive my car, and prices for everything else aren't going down, I need to economize. Off to the library I go.
Sad but true, the only library card I actually have is for the library in my hometown. I believe I got this when I upgraded to the "adult" library at age 13 (another cringe!). My college library card is no longer activated, and I'm still angry with them after a minor scandal involving a copy of Moby Dick returned slightly later than its due date and an unreasonable fine attached to my diploma.
Running home to Pennsylvania to check out a book defeats my whole "cutting back on driving" philosophy, so getting a new, local card is my new mission for the week. It's an appropriate time, seeing as September is National Library Card Sign-up Month.
In my completely non-credentialed opinion, nothing makes you a better writer than reading. While I had some great English teachers over the years, I credit my perfect "A" average in "General Writing" to having my nose stuck in books and picking up on different writing styles and techniques.
With school just starting back up, now is the perfect time to get your kids interested in reading and into the library. Start them young! Most public libraries offer "story-time" and other activities to keep kids' attention. Show them the movies and music libraries have to offer, along with the books. And remember, free is good.
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