By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
During the month of September, the St. Joseph Public Library is encouraging you to get out to the library and sign up for a library card.
September is library card sign up month and the theme this year at the St. Joseph Public Library is “One Card, Endless Possibilities”.
Director Mary Beth Revels says sometimes people might not realize everything the library can offer
“Sure, we offer books, we offer movies, we offer free Wi-fi, we have computers,” Revels tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “We offer printers, a lot of times people just need something to print and you can come to the library and print it, we also offer all kind of informational databases from genealogy research to homework help and lots of free programs at the library.”
Revels says even in this sort of digital age we are in, the value of libraries continues to grow, because not everyone can afford an Audible subscription.
“You can come to the library and you can get James Patterson’s latest book as a print book, we can get that for you as a large print book, you can get that as an E audio book, you can check it out through the library and listen to it on your phone,” Revels explains. “You can also check it out as an E book.”
Revels says even in the digital age when you can read a book in so many different formats, you can get those at the library, but still more physical books are checked out than digital books.
Revels says a library card offers so many services to people, including some people might not know about, like available E-content
“We offer Hoopla, Libby, Boundless, Blackstone Audio, those are all different apps that you can download and use your library card to check out E Books and E Audio Books, sometimes music, sometimes magazines depending on the different app,” Revels says. “Sometimes movies, we check out streaming movies through Kanopy.”
During the month the library is offering prizes to anyone who uses their library card. You can enter prize drawings at any of the four St. Joseph Public Library locations.
Also, during the month, the fee to sign up for a library card or replace a lost card will be waived.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.