Celebrate National Library Card Sign-Up Month

Celebrate National Library Card Sign-Up Month

the Fire character from Disney's "Elemental" stands next to the text "Fire Up Your Imagination with a library card. Get Yours Today!" followed by sponsors ALA, Library Champions, OverDrive, and Disney's Elemental

York County Libraries is excited to celebrate National Library Card Sign-Up Month in September. We’re glad that you want to share in the celebration!

The theme of National Library Card Sign-Up Month in 2023 is “A Library Card is Elemental!” It is inspired by Disney/Pixar’s new film, “Elemental.”

Library cards provide equitable access to books, technology, music, research, and more to Americans of all backgrounds. They provide a key avenue of access to many people, and ensure broad access to knowledge, entertainment, and enrichment.

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 logoGOAL – 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! 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. Or explore the poetry prompt video series we ran in 2022!

 

23 in 2023 YCL Teens & adults reading challenge

23 in 2023 – This is our year-long reading challenge for Teens and Adults!

Reading offers huge benefits to people of all ages (read the “23 in 2023” page, linked above, to learn about it). We are challenging library users to start and finish 23 books in the year 2023. It sounds like a lot, but many items count: Audiobooks, Graphic Novels, eBooks, and eAudiobooks. We use the Beanstack App to run the challenge. Each month we’ll also post some bonus just-for-fun activities too!

Besides getting all the benefits of reading, you’ll also get prizes after logging your 13th book and when you complete the challenge. See if you can complete 23 in 2023!

Free Access to Resources

Our library members also get access to a variety of free resources, both in our buildings and online. Get started with 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!

Table of "library elements" to promote the How I Library contest for 2023The “ILoveLibraries” social media pages are running a fun contest throughout the month of September! One lucky winner will win a $150 Visa Gift Card. Three other people will win a poster of their choice from the ALA Store.

To enter, open up your social media account and answer the question:

“How do I library?”

Participating is easy:

  1. Snap a pic or shoot a video showcasing what you love about the library! Or click here to choose a library element that best applies to you: there are 44 to choose from.
  2. Post to Instagram, X, or on the @ILoveLibraries Facebook page with the hashtag #HowILibrary.
  3. Tag your library (we’re @yorkcountylibraries on FB and Insta; each YCL library has their own handle too!).  Tag your friends to help spread the word!

Support Us

If you find value in what the library offers, we always welcome your generous 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!