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September is National Library Card Signup Month
York County Libraries is excited to celebrate National Library Card Signup Month in September. We’re glad that you want to share in the celebration! Library cards provide equitable access to books, technology, music, research, and more to Americans of all classes and backgrounds.
Marley Dias is the honorary chair for the 2021 National Library Card Signup Month. Marley made the news back in 2015 when, as a 10-year-old avid reader, she found herself frustrated at the difficulties in finding quality books featuring Black female protagonists.
To address this, she started the social media campaign #1000BlackGirlBooks seeking book suggestions. Today, the list has over 13,000 titles! You can find the full list here, but keep an eye on YCL’s social media throughout September for (a few!) notable titles you can check out with your YCL card.
Getting a Library Card is Easy
We will happily provide a free library membership to anyone who resides or works in York County, PA. One YCL library card works at all 13 locations across York County.
A card is easy to get. You can pick up a paper form at any YCL library and bring it back, or you can fill out our easy online application and we will mail your card to you. We do need to see proof of your address at your first visit, but this is as simple as bringing in a current ID or even a piece of mail with your name and address.
Have a card already? Now is a great time to update your info with us. Click here to learn how.
Have an expired card? Use the online form to renew it and regain access to all we have to offer!
Amazing Events
Besides materials like books, ebooks, and STEAM kits, YCL offers a variety of programs for all ages. Some notable upcoming events include:
GOAL – Grade One At the Library; a special program for first-grade students. Participants get a special GOAL-themed library card of their very own! They also get some fun gifts for making library visits. Teachers whose classrooms have 100% participation in GOAL are automatically entered to win amazing enrichment activities including a children’s author visit! You can get your classroom involved here.
Celebration of Poetry – Our annual poetry contest for York County students in grades 1 through 12! Winners perform their poems in a celebration event in April. We also publish the winning poems in a book! We add a copy of the book to the library’s collection. Winners also get a copy of their own to keep. The entry period runs from December through January. Our 2020 and 2021 Celebrations were celebrated virtually; click to watch the videos.
Leap Into Science – Explore new STEAM topics each month in these hands-on programs for school age children. Held one Saturday each month.
Leap into Science is an interactive program that focuses on various STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) topics. Join educator Ben Olewiler to ask and answer questions like scientists do. Families work together to learn scientific information from books, make observations and predictions, and then conduct science experiments to investigate answers.
Free Access to Resources
Our library members also get access to a variety of free resources, both in our buildings and online. An easy place to get started is the “Online Resources” page on our website. Too many resources in that list? Check out our filters for specific needs such as “Kids,” “Homework,” and “Learning.”
Prize Opportunity through Sept 22!
The “ILoveLibraries” social media pages are running a fun contest throughout the month of September! One lucky winner will win a $100 Visa Gift Card and an ALA poster of The Child from the Mandalorian (aka Baby Yoda!). To enter, just answer the question:
“How do #LibrariesEmpower you?”
On or before Sept 22, post your answer to Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #LibrariesEmpower. You can also submit entries by posting a comment or wall post on the @ILoveLibraries Facebook page. Don’t forget to tag York County Libraries #YCLempowers and #YCLreads.
Support Us
If you find value in what the library offers, we are always in need of your financial support. Consider making a donation at donate.yorklibraries.org to help ensure these benefits are available to York Countians for years to come!
Can’t afford to donate? Please share how the library helps you create, achieve, and thrive… because your stories really do help! Tag us in a social post, write us a letter, or just stop by and talk with us!
A note on masking standards:
If a library program is offered indoors, all attendees (2 & older) are required to wear masks and physical distance. Outdoor or virtual programs will be provided whenever possible for added safety. We recommend physical distancing and masks at outdoor events and when visiting any YCL building, but masks are not currently required except when attending indoor events/programs.