September is CL Library Card Sign Up Month

The Canyon Lake Library is joining with the American Library Association and libraries nationwide for Library Card Sign Up Month, an initiative to make sure that every student has the most important school supply of all – a free library card. This year, Disney Pixar’s superhero family, the Incredibles, are serving as honorary chairs to help the American Library Association promote the value of a library card.

The value of today’s libraries goes beyond books. Libraries build a foundation for children’s future success starting from the earliest stages of development. They play a key role in helping children develop the basic tools for school readiness by teaching families the components of early literacy.

As new technologies evolve, libraries continue to lead the way in providing equity of access to digital tools and media, which has become increasingly important in high-poverty areas where students are less likely to have a computer or internet service at home.

Resources at the Canyon Lake Library are available to anyone in the library. A library card is needed to take the items home for use or to use the many services available through the Riverside County Library System (RCLS) website if not at an RCLS library branch. “Our library provides access and programs for students of all ages,” said Canyon Lake Library librarian Sandra Brautigam. “There’s really something for everyone, and it’s all free with a library card.”

Students can turn to the library for books and programs but also for tutoring through the high school volunteer program or online service Brainfuse.

For teens, adults returning to school or life-long learners, the RCLS website rivlib.net contains Gale Databases such as InfoTrac General Reference Center Gold containing periodical, newspaper and reference articles from over 5,000 publications on such diverse topics as humanities, art, current events, technology and general interest topics.

Newspaper articles are available and searchable in Info Trac Newstand. Pronunciator, the world’s largest language learning service, is available free to use through the RCLS library card.

If studying health subjects or even learning more about your own challenges, Health and  Wellness Resource Center contains periodical and journal articles as well as videos on a wide range of health topics. Health Reference Center is also available to cardholders.

The RCLS offers the first library card for free. Replacement cards are $1. RCLS does not set minimums for age of a cardholder. For more information about how to sign up for a library card, visit the Canyon Lake Library or any RCLS branch.