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September is Library Card Sign-up Month - 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.
The observance was launched in 1987 to meet the
challenge of then Secretary of Education William
J. Bennett who said: "Let's have a national
campaign...every child should obtain a library
card - and use it." Since then, thousands of
public and school libraries join each fall in a
national effort to ensure every child does just
that.
Library cards are free to those living in the
CMRLS libraries service area; Rankin, Scott,
Simpson, and Smith counties. CMRLS libraries
require some form of picture identification and
proof of residency. For more information
about getting your CMRLS library card, see
http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us/library_card.htm
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.
Libraries in Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith
counties also 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 computer 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."
Programs for adults and teens are also offered.
For a list of programs for all ages planned this
month, see
http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us/calendar.html
Join CMRLS in
celebrating September as National Library Card
Sign-up Month. Make sure the student in
your life has their library card!
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