Your Library Card Gets You Discounts in September

Information provided by the Upper Dublin and Wissahickon Valley Libraries.

September is the American Library Association’s “Library Card Sign Up Month," and for the fourth year in a row, residents served by the Upper Dublin and Wissahickon Valley Public Libraries will get more when they show their library card this month.

“People are already getting a great value with their library card when you consider what’s available to them--the countless books, movies, audio books, and music CDs that can be borrowed not to mention the homework help and research sites available 24/7--all available to residents when they have a library card,” says Cherilyn P. Fiory, Director of the Upper Dublin Public Library.  “But thanks to the support of our local businesses, and this year we have more than ever before, people who show their library card during September will receive discounts from those establishments. It’s a nice way to reward our patrons each year and an added incentive for someone to get a card if they don’t have one.”

It seems that many residents don’t need reminding of a library card’s value, however. According to Fiory, patrons borrowed over 340,000 items last year from the Upper Dublin Public Library, a 4% increase over 2011. And if you think that books are all that libraries have to offer, think again. Audio-visual collections, such as movies and music, as well as ebooks for reading on your own personal device, are some of the fastest growing collections of interest. And did you know that you can even borrow local museum membership passes with your library card?

The Wissahickon Valley Public Library is also seeing increased usage,” says Anne M. Frank, Director of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, “Library visits were up 8% last year. The number of events planned to meet the demand were up 20% and attendance at those programs was up 35%. The Library’s mission is to become the community center in the Wissahickon Valley and we are well on our way.”

A library card opens up a world of opportunity - stop in today and get one!   

Go to www.udlibrary.org or www.wvpl.org to see the list of participating businesses.