Speaking Volumes

What's in your Wallet? (Capitol One), Don't Leave Home Without it! (American Express), Spend Smarter (Discover Card) are catchwords for all those credit cards we own. These companies spend billions advertising their product. Libraries are notorious for being modest about our services. We don't have lots of money for large campaigns or advertising slogans. Though I carry a few of these, the most valuable card in my wallet is my library card! 

The amount of money I save each year is hard to calculate but I know it is a goodly sum. I can borrow books, magazines, books on cd, music, movies, read a newspaper, use the computers, do reserach in the databases available on Iconn either within the library or 24/7 at home. If our library doesn't have the material I'm looking for, I can request it via Interlibrary Loan and have it delivered to Saxton B. My public library card makes me welcome in virtually any public library in the state and allows me to borrow their materials. I can drop these off at our library. If I need a copy or to send a fax, I can save gas money by doing it at the library. Friends of the Library provides many passes, either with reduced or free admission, to many area museums. I can bring my children to weekly story-times, get homework help, join any of several book groups or attend programs available  for all ages.

All this and all you have to do is visit the library and sign-up for a library card. It's free and all that's required is proof of residency, anything with your Columbia address on it, most usually a driver's license.  Saxton B. is open Monday, Friday, Saturday, 10-5 and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10-8

Each year the American Library Association (ALA) proclaims September Library Card Sign-up Month. This year Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the Honorary Chair. Hear him speak as he  announces "2/3 of Americans have library cards". Stop by and get yours today.