REDISCOVER YOUR LIBRARY DURING SEPTEMBER

The Belmont County District Library is kicking off Library Card Sign-Up Month with the Rediscover Your Library promotion during September 2015. Library Card Sign-up Month is a time when the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country promote the value of a library card and library services. From finding a job, brushing up on skills, to getting homework help and becoming more engaged in your community, a library card offers limitless opportunities to transform lives through education and lifelong learning—and best of all its free!

In order to get a library card, local residents must present an ID or Drivers License with their current local address to any Belmont County District Library location. Parents or legal guardians can also apply for a library card for their children in the same manner, and must be present during the application process. Once received, an Ohio issued library card can be used at any of the SEO Consortium libraries throughout the state. Out of State residents are welcome to apply for a library card by paying a $5.00 annual fee.

With a library card, patrons can check out so much more than books. No longer just repositories for printed materials, today’s libraries are going beyond just the books on the shelves. To meet the ever changing needs of their patrons, libraries are evolving into tech-hubs, offering digital resources such as e-books, streaming music, e-magazines, Wi-Fi/internet, computer access, and online databases geared toward educational enrichment. Along with the tech-based services, the library also offers faxing, color and black & white copying, scanning, newspapers, and notary services for the community.

A lifelong love of reading is also fostered in our littlest patrons through children’s programming such as baby time, story time, and summer reading programs. The library also has a wealth of information and resources for our home-schooling families and local teachers, as well. The community is invited to stop in and check us out for all of your pleasure-reading, educational and entertainment needs.

As a part of this special month, the Belmont County District Library will be holding a Picture Scavenger Hunt. Patrons are invited to visit any of our six locations during the month of September to participate in the fun! Throughout each location, patrons will search and find 29 pictures of famous or notable people. Attached to each picture will be a clue as to the person’s identity. Participants will be given an answer sheet to fill out as to who each person is, and will turn it in to the circulation desk of that location. The answer sheets will be tallied and those with the most accurate guesses will be placed in a drawing for some fantastic prizes. The drawing will be held during the first week of October.

Along with the Rediscover Your Library campaign, the Belmont County District Library will also be participating in Banned Books Week; September 27th through October 3rd. Banned Books week gives libraries the opportunity to shine a light on all of the printed material that has been deemed inappropriate for varying reason throughout history up to present day. More information on this event will be announced in the coming weeks. Be certain to check the library’s website at www.bcdlibrary.org or stop by your local branch for updates.

The Belmont County District Library is a six library system with locations in Shadyside, Bridgeport, Bethesda, Flushing, Powhatan Point, with the main library in Martins Ferry. Thanks to the previously successful levy, the library has been able to increase the hours and services available to the residents of Belmont County. For more information on this or any other programming, call 740-633-0314, visit us online at www.bcdlibrary.org, or on our Facebook page.