FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 16, 2022
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: City Council
FROM: City Manager
Prepared by: Interim Library Director
SUBJECT: PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER AS LIBRARY CARD
SIGN-UP MONTH
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council designate the month of September as "Library Card Sign-up Month."
BACKGROUND:
Library Card Sign-up Month was created in 1987 as a national campaign sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country to emphasize the importance of library cards to a child's education and to reduce illiteracy. The campaign started as a response to then Secretary of Education, William Bennett, who stated, "Let's have a campaign...every child should obtain a library card and use it." With an $85,000 grant from the Reader's Digest Foundation, the ALA teamed up with the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science to initiate Library Card Sign-up Month. Since 1987, thousands of public libraries have participated in the annual campaign to remind parents, caregivers, and students that signing up for a library card is a vital step on the path to academic achievement and lifelong learning.
Libraries play a crucial role in the education and development of children, offering a variety of programs to spark creativity and stimulate an interest in reading and learning.
Through access to technology, media resources, and educational programs, a library card gives students the tools to succeed in the classroom and provides people of all ages opportunities to pursue their dreams, explore new passions and interests, and find their voice.
DISCUSSION:
The Santa Maria Public Library encourages community members to sign up for a free library card to access the Library's many resources --print and electronic materials, databases, programming designed to meet community needs, and free services to support early literacy skills and lifelong learning. A library card provides community members many cost -saving benefits, such as free access to programs and online databases, borrowing up to 50 items at one time, free streaming service, and checking out items from the Library of Things catalog. The Library is committed to offering a path
to free resources that provide a respite from rising costs and enhance the quality of life for all community members.
Recognizing September as Library Card Sign-up Month in the City of Santa Maria will promote greater awareness of Library services and the value libraries provide to the community. By accessing these services with a Library card, residents will connect to resources and information which will positively impact their quality of life.
DAWN M. JACK N
Interim Library Director
City of Santa Maria
Santa Maria, California
Proclamation
Santa Maria
All Amenea city
'NI re
WHEREAS, Library Card Sign-up Month was created in 1987 as a national campaign sponsored by the American Library Association, the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, and libraries across the country to emphasize the importance of library cards to a child's education; and
WHEREAS, libraries play a crucial role in the education and development of children, offering a variety of programs to spark creativity and stimulate an interest in reading and learning; and WHEREAS, libraries provide a learning environment that fosters joyful exploration and encourages residents to research subjects they are curious about; and WHEREAS, library cards provide residents opportunities to connect to resources and information which will positively impact their quality of life; and WHEREAS a library card empowers all people to pursue their dreams, explore new passions and interests, and find their voice; and
WHEREAS, the Santa Maria Public Library encourages community members to take advantage of the Library's many resources, print and electronic materials, databases, specially curated programming, and free services to support early literacy skills and continuing educational support.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ALICE M. PATINO, Mayor of the City of Santa Maria, hereby proclaim September as:
"LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH"
in the City of Santa Maria, and encourage all residents to sign-up for a free library card and connect with fellow community members at the Santa Maria Public Library or one of its branch libraries to promote greater awareness of Library services and the value libraries provide to the community.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and have caused the Seal of the City of Santa Maria to be affixed hereto this 16'" day of August 2022.
Alice M. Patino, Mayor