Library Card Sign-Up Month comes with a little extra gas in the tank at Ellsworth Public Library
ELLSWORTH — A library card can open the door to far more than a good book. This September, during Library Card Sign-Up Month, Ellsworth Public Library invites community members to discover — or rediscover — everything that comes with a library card. In addition to more than 46,000 in-house items available to borrow, EPL cardholders can access cultural passes, a growing Library of Things and Tool Library, free programs and classes, streaming services, audiobooks, public computers and high-speed internet, meeting spaces and community resources.
“Our community’s needs are always changing,” Library Director Sarah Lesko said, “and we’re continually finding new ways for a library card to meet those needs.”
Library Card Sign-Up Month also coincides with the launch of several new programs for all ages at EPL, including yoga on the lawn with Lexi Crites, a monthly perimenopause and menopause support group, a four-part personal finance workshop series with KeyBank, and an afterschool program for kids and teens on Wednesday afternoons.
Getting a library card is free for Ellsworth residents and residents of some surrounding towns. To learn more, visit https://www.ellsworthlibrary.net/get-a-library-card/.
One card, many possibilities
EPL’s Library of Things allows community members to borrow items they may only need occasionally, including tools such as a sander, saw, drill, woodworking clamps, power washer, stud finder and construction jack. The collection continues to grow in response to community interest: The library currently runs a survey to learn more about the tool-related needs in the community: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3ZQZKTQ.
Library cardholders can also reserve seasonal cultural passes providing free admission to attractions, including the Farnsworth Art Museum, Maine Maritime Museum, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Maine Discovery Museum, Oceanarium and Maine State Parks.
The library also maintains a collection of community resources on its website, connecting residents with information about housing, transportation, food resources, employment, volunteer opportunities, local room rental options and resources for veterans.
Access is not limited to items you can check out. EPL offers diverse spaces for different needs and ages, from areas designed specifically for young children, middle schoolers, and teenagers to quiet spaces for studying or remote work, and a bookable meeting space.
A little extra incentive to get a card — or share the library with a friend
Throughout September, EPL is giving community members another reason to sign up, renew, or encourage someone else to get a library card. When a patron refers a friend who signs up for or renews a library card during Library Card Sign-Up Month, both individuals will be entered into a drawing for one of two $50 gas cards.
Only patrons who sign up for or renew their cards between Tuesday, Sept. 1 and Wednesday, Sept. 30 are eligible. The offer is also available to residents of other towns. For online card registrations, any required payment must be made within the same period.
New programs for all ages add even more ways to connect this fall
Upcoming new offerings include:
- Yoga with Lexi, Thursday mornings, beginning on Sept. 3 from 8 to 9 a.m. on the library lawn. Led by holistic wellness practitioner, yoga instructor, and meditation facilitator Lexi Crites. Donations are welcome. EPL will provide yoga mats free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more and register.
- Hot News Flash: A Perimenopause & Menopause Support Group, beginning Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. and continuing on the third Saturday of each month. The new social group provides a welcoming space for women to share, learn, listen, laugh, cry and possibly break things. Learn more.
- Money, Me & Key, a four-part personal finance workshop series presented with KeyBank, beginning Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. The first session, “Making Budgets Work,” will help participants identify obstacles to budgeting and develop a structure for tracking and analyzing spending. Learn more and register.
- Dial-A-Craft, a weekly afterschool program for kids and teens beginning Sept. 9 at 3 p.m. Participants spin a wheel and choose a random craft, with options ranging from Perler beads and bracelets to patch-making, button-making, and cardboard crafts. No registration is required. Learn more.
An initiative of the American Library Association, Library Card Sign-up Month has been held each September since 1987 to mark the beginning of the school year, combat illiteracy, and encourage communities everywhere to explore all the offerings that having a library card unlocks. Today, thousands of public libraries and schools nationwide participate in the month-long celebration each fall. This year’s theme, “A Library Card Hits All the Right Notes,” celebrates the many ways libraries can become part of people’s lives. Learn more at www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/card.
The Ellsworth Public Library is an open, welcoming and safe space where people come together to learn, connect, and grow. It is a vibrant hub of curiosity and community where everyone is invited to participate through every chapter of life. The library believes that strong communities begin with equitable access to knowledge, meaningful connections, and lifelong learning, and that literacy, especially early literacy, is a vital foundation for the well-being of all community members. Learn more at www.ellsworthlibrary.net.