PROCLAMATION OF THE
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
OBSERVING SEPTEMEMBER 2026, AS
NATIONAL LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP & LITERACY MONTH
IN THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO
WHEREAS, in observance of September being National Library Card Sign-Up & Literacy Month celebrated nationally as “A Library Card Hits All the Right Notes” by the American Library Association - patrons are encouraged to visit one or more of the four San Bernardino Public Libraries, either in person to sign-up for a regular library card or virtually at www.sbpl.org to sign up for a digital library card to utilize online resources; and
WHEREAS, whether people visit in person or virtually, libraries offer endless opportunities to transform lives through education and lifelong learning; serving people of every age, education level, ethnicity and physical ability; and WHEREAS, in addition to checking out books and doing research, our libraries offer free activities such as pre-school story time, crafts, workshops, author visits, entertainment programs, literacy services, and online resources including eBooks and eAudiobooks, helping people improve their lives at no cost; and WHEREAS, San Bernardino Public Library offers literacy tutoring through the Jack L. Hill Lifelong Learning Center, providing services to adults, children, and families, including free computer classes, and is scheduled to add an Animakerspace area, giving patrons of all ages opportunities to build, design, and create using technology; and
WHEREAS, in Fiscal Year 2025/26, SBPL had more than 22,000 library cardholders: checked out almost 75,000 items, including more than 22,000 Overdrive eBooks and eAudiobooks via the Libby app; had almost 125,000 patron visits and more than 11,000 people of all ages participated in library programs; and more than 50,000 visits to the library website; and
WHEREAS, our San Bernardino Public Library has served our community for 135 years and if there is any city that can benefit from a free public library, it is here; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT, The Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, do hereby proclaim September 2026 as NATIONAL LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP & LITERACY MONTH.
Presented this 2nd Day of September 2026