September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month — a time when libraries across the country shine a spotlight on the most powerful card you can carry. It won’t buy you coffee or rack up airline miles, but your library card opens doors to opportunity, knowledge, and brighter futures for families and individuals throughout Stark County.
At Stark Library, we see every day how a simple library card can unlock life-changing resources. We see parents arriving at storytime with toddlers, proudly holding their first library card and taking the very first step toward school readiness. We see grandparents helping grandkids check out books, planting seeds of curiosity that will grow for a lifetime. And we see students of all ages discovering tools and support that help them thrive in the classroom — and far beyond.
Libraries are no longer just places to borrow books (though that will always be core to who we are), they are a free pass to connectivity, resources and programs/activities that guide your child’s school journey from their earliest moments of learning through graduation and into the workforce.
Take our Ready for School resources, for example. They, build early literacy skills for ages birth through 5 with engaging lessons and free activity kits to keep. These programs help young children develop language skills, problem-solving abilities, and confidence long before they ever step into a classroom.
When students reach elementary school, our Homework Help resources offer support for children in grades K–3, and as learners grow older, they can tap into free digital tools that provide research databases, language learning programs, e-books, and test prep materials anytime, anywhere.
And because learning does not stop after you graduate, Stark Library supports lifelong learning too with technology training, educational programming and community connections. All our resources at Stark Library are free because we believe everyone deserves access to the tools they need to succeed in life — regardless of income, background or circumstance.
A library card is more than just a piece of plastic. It’s an investment — in your child’s future, in your family’s growth, your own personal development, and in our community’s shared success. It can be the most cost-effective back-to-school supply you get this year. If you’re already a cardholder, thank you. Use this month to explore everything available to you. If you haven’t signed up yet, September is the perfect time.
With your library card, the possibilities are endless. Visit any Stark Library location or sign-up HERE.