Op-Ed: Happy National Library Card Signup Month!
Created in 1987 to help celebrate the new school year, the National Library Card Signup Month each September is a great time for us all to be reminded that each of us can hold something of great value in our back pocket, purse or saved on our phones. Something that can open doors to new information, help us learn new skills and ensure access to lifelong learning.
Public libraries have a rich tradition going all the way back to 1731 when Benjamin Franklin created the Library Company of Philadelphia. Initially requiring subscription, it did allow non-members to access the collection for a fee. While not the “Free Library” that we’ve come to know, it is considered the foundation of the modern public library.
Public libraries are one of America’s great traditions. The idea that information is for everyone, not a subset, and that each of us have the power to transform our lives is embedded in the American psyche. The Napa County Library is proud to be a part of this tradition, and we work hard to ensure that we’re providing a service that’s relevant to our residents.
While it’s not uncommon to hear people say, “why do we still need a library when everything’s online?” Here are some facts and figures that may help shine a light on what public libraries do and why we’re relevant to thousands of people living and working in Napa County:
- Last year, our nearly 50,000 Napa County Library cardholders checked out more than 650,000 physical items and more than a quarter of a million ebooks, e-audiobooks and e-magazines.
- More than 30,000 people attended more than 1,000 programs throughout our system.
- And throughout the Napa County Library, we had over 300,000 visits, over 50,000 of those were in American Canyon.
It was also fun to read the headline in the San Francisco Chronicle on August 16: Young San Franciscans aren’t going to bars. They’re hanging at the library. Libraries are having a cultural moment and we’re glad to be a part of it here in Calistoga and other Napa County Libraries by providing a lot of services each year to benefit the public. But we couldn’t do it alone. Each year we have hundreds of people volunteer thousands of hours to help adults and kids learn to read, use a computer, pass the GED, complete ESL courses and much more. We also have dedicated Friends of the Library in each location who help us by accepting book and other material donations, selling them and then giving that money back to the library. The public gives us thousands of books each year and, with that, we’re able to fund programming, outreach activities and more. We couldn’t do it without the dedicated residents. To learn more, consider attending a Friends of the Library meeting (just call to learn more about when the next meeting will be held) or reach out to learn about how you can volunteer.
Finally, a reminder that National Library Card Signup Month for NVUSD students ties directly into why the month was created more than 30 years ago: All students are automatically given library access using their student ID. Since 2016, each student of NVUSD student can check out five items, access any of our over 30 databases and be able to get live homework help in English & Spanish every day of the week during the school year. It’s common for families to have library cards and share them or to even have them for each of their kids, but it’s less common for those kids to have access to the card themselves or to have memorized the 13 digit number. Without that card, they can’t immediately access so many of our online resources. Our Student OneCard program was the first in California and each year results in thousands of items checked out by students, supporting their recreational and educational needs.
Happy National Library Card Signup Month!
The American Canyon Library is open Monday – Saturday, most days 9 to 6 p.m. and Wednesday 12 to 8 p.m.
Reach us by phone at (707) 644-1136
Or visit us online at www.napalibrary.org
Anthony Halstead is the director of library services for the County of Napa.
