A LIBRARY CARD IS YOUR CHILD’S TICKET TO ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
August 20, 2014 (Helena, MT)—Every parent wants their child to succeed, and one of the simplest ways you can ensure your child’s academic success is by making a quick trip to the library. September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when your Lewis & Clark Library joins with the American Library Association and public libraries nationwide to make sure that every student has the most import school supply of all – a free library card.
Resources at your Lewis & Clark Library are available to anyone who has a library card. Students can turn to the library for materials, programs and services that support academic achievement. Students can use their library cards from home, too. Our library offers access to important educational resources, like Teenlandia; HomeworkMT; MontanaLibrary2Go and much more!
“Our library provides all types of students a welcoming atmosphere where they can explore, discover and create,” says Judy Hart, Director of the Lewis & Clark Library. “Students learn in a variety of ways, thanks to the resources available at the library we can meet the needs of all ages and types of learners. Whether that is through homework help, STEAM programs or access print and e-books, the library has something for everyone – all with a free library card. It is for these reasons that a library card is most important school supply of all.”
Public Libraries play an important role in the education and development of children. Studies show 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 lifetime 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 homework centers provide computers and assistance to older children after school. Summer reading clubs keep 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."
As our culture is shifting to a more active role in the creation of culture and information, today’s libraries are finding new and innovative ways to extend their collections and services, providing access to a wide variety of tools, both high-tech and low-tech, to empower their communities.
In addition to books, magazines, CDs and DVDs, computers, games, software and other multimedia materials, libraries increasing offer access to e-books and e-book readers. Seventy-six percent of libraries offer access to e-books, an increase of 9 percent from last year. Mobile devices, including e-book readers are available at 39 percent of libraries.
Today’s public libraries are thriving technology hubs that millions rely on as their first or only choice for Internet access and digital content. Public libraries offer free classes and one-on-one instruction on technology, Internet and resource use. They help people start businesses, create resumes, search for jobs and apply for jobs online. Libraries help people connect with government and their communities, complete online forms and use online government services.
September is Library Card Sign-up Month. Visit your Lewis & Clark Library to get involved. Visit www.lclibrary.org to learn more.
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