Nationwide, September is Library Card Sign-Up month. Here in Talbot County, September is also Talbot Goes Purple month, dedicated to raising awareness of our nation’s and our region’s ongoing opioid crisis. As part of its efforts in support of Talbot Goes Purple, the Talbot County Free Library will offer purple library cards in September to all new applicants while supplies last. When they receive their new card, each patron will also be given a “free book buck,” which can be exchanged for any book in the library’s book sale. As always, there is no charge for getting your first library card. It is absolutely free.
Library Card Sign-up Month is a time when the American Library Association and libraries across the country remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all. Libraries play an essential role in the education and development of children. Research shows that children who are read to in the home and who use the library perform better in school and are more likely to continue to use the library as a source of lifelong learning.
Librarians are literacy experts. Libraries offer a variety of programs to stimulate an interest in reading and learning. Preschool story hours expose young children to the joy of reading, while libraries provide computers and homework assistance to older children after school. The Talbot County Free Library’s Brainfuse database offers live tutors online (among other services) to students in our area. The library’s summer reading program keeps children reading during school vacation and have been shown to be the most important factor in avoiding the decrease in reading skills that educators refer to as “summer learning loss.”
Society is changing in the way it consumes information. Libraries are evolving with these changes to serve the public and to continue to fulfill their role in leveling the playing field for all who seek information and access to technologies.
Today’s public libraries are thriving technology hubs that millions rely on as their first or only choice for Internet access and digital content. In addition to books, magazines, DVDs, computers, games, software and other multimedia materials, the Talbot County Free Library provides access to e-books, online movies, music, and more … all absolutely free of charge.
The Talbot County Free Library is often the first point of contact in helping community members achieve their goals. From providing assistance to small business owners to helping people learn more about healthy lifestyles, the Talbot County Free Library is changing lives.
Libraries are America’s great information equalizers – the only place people of all ages and backgrounds can find and freely use such a diversity of resources, along with the expert guidance of librarians.
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