TOLEDO, Ohio — September is almost over, but the Toledo Lucas County Public Library (TLCPL) is still celebrating Library Card Sign-up Month.
Representatives with the Toledo Lucas County Public Libraries said there have been 1,700 new sign ups this month alone, bringing the total number to 325,000 holders.
Jason Kucsna, the Executive Director of TLCPL said Library cards are the first step to getting connected with the many different resources the system offers.
A library card grants the public access to the millions of books offered by the LCPL. It also gets the public connected to online databases, E-Books, programs and resources.
Right now, the library said its goal is to connect more children with books and library resources.
TLCPL Executive Director Jason Kucsna said the library is working with educators, families and care givers to combat post-pandemic educational challenges. They want more children to get card to read more and to improve their literacy skills.
The director said the pandemic has led to students reading at levels below their grade level. He said the more they read, the better their skills will become.
During library registration month, they highlight the importance of the cards and connect the children to resources, like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
"We stress that we help them learn to read, so they can then read to learn," said Kucsna. "We also promote that with our Imagination Library program. Caregivers can sign up kids ages 0 to 5 and they will get a book delivered to them every month. So the imagination library program is another way that we are helping kids stay on track with their reading."
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Library cards are both free.
And you can find ways to sign up at the TLCPL website. Click here to learn more.
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