National Library Card Sign-up Month

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a perfect time for us to remind parents and children that a library card is a school supply that shouldn't be forgotten in the rush to stock up on pencils and notebooks when school starts.

This year Kareem Abdul-Jabar has been named honorary chair of Library Card Sign-up Month by the American Library Association.

Kareem is the 7'2" tall basketball star who helped his teams win three consecutive NCAA titles and six NBA championships. He is also an author who has seen four of his books reach the bestseller lists. This armchair time traveller explains what the library means to him: "The library has always been my own personal time machine. I can walk through the doors and land in any place, any time period in history. I didn’t have to wonder what their worlds were like; I could experience it first hand.”

Think the library is just for running in and grabbing a classic on a reading list? If so, check out 52 ways to use your library card.

If you haven't traded in your old library card for a new keychain card yet, do so this September and the usual $3 replacement fee will be waived. If you don't already have a card, check here for everything you need to know about signing up for a library card and borrowing materials.