Mandel Public Library spotlights National Library Card Sign-Up Month with new card design and free community resources

West Palm Beach, Florida – Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach is using September’s National Library Card Sign-Up Month to remind residents that a library card can provide access to far more than shelves filled with books.

Throughout the month, the library will highlight its services, programs and digital resources while introducing a newly redesigned library card. New and existing cardholders will also have opportunities to receive library merchandise and enter special giveaways.

The annual celebration is designed to encourage people of all ages to get a library card and take advantage of services that are available at little or no cost. At Mandel Public Library, those services extend from traditional reading materials to homework assistance, technology, career resources, educational programs and entertainment.

“A library card is really about access and opportunity,” said Lisa Hathaway, Library Director of Mandel Public Library. “Whether you need help finding reliable information, a quiet place to work, support for your child, access to technology or simply something new to read, learn or experience, we’re here. And many of these resources are available wherever you are, without ever stepping inside the library.”

The library, located at 411 Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach, offers a broad selection of resources for students, families and adults. Cardholders can receive afternoon homework help from certified teachers for students in grades K–12, making the library a resource for families looking for additional academic support.

Visitors can also use free Wi-Fi and computers, while laptops are available for use throughout the library. The location provides notary services as well as career and business resources for people looking for information, planning their next professional move or developing a business.

For younger visitors, the library offers storytimes and early learning programs. Adults can take part in book clubs, lectures and a variety of classes and activities. The programming goes well beyond reading, with offerings that include yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, ballet, hip hop, Soul Line Dancing, mahjong and ukulele.

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Technology is another major part of the library’s services. On the second floor, the Technology and Innovation Center, known as TIC, gives cardholders a place to experiment with modern tools and create digital projects.

The center provides opportunities involving podcasting, music creation and 3-D printing, among other activities. It is intended as a hands-on space where visitors can explore technology and develop new skills rather than simply use a computer for basic tasks.

The benefits of a library card also continue outside the building. Cardholders can use online services from home or while traveling, including access to free e-books, digital audiobooks, music and other resources.

Among those digital services is Hoopla, which allows library users to access entertainment and other digital content without needing to visit the downtown location.

This year’s National Library Card Sign-Up Month theme, “A Library Card Hits All the Right Notes,” puts a special focus on music and the ways libraries can help people explore it.

Mandel Public Library cardholders can stream music through available digital services and borrow a ukulele through the Library of Things. The library also offers ukulele classes for people interested in learning to play.

Visitors who are curious about creating music can use resources at the Technology and Innovation Center to experiment with beats and podcasts. Younger library users can also explore music through a karaoke machine available through the Kids Library of Things.

The emphasis on music is part of a broader message behind the annual campaign. A library card is not simply a pass to borrow books. It can connect residents with educational tools, creative activities, technology and experiences that might otherwise be difficult or expensive to access.

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September will also bring a new look to Mandel Public Library cards. Residents can participate in Library Card Sign-Up Month by getting their first library card, replacing an older card with the newly redesigned version or encouraging a friend or family member to become a cardholder.

Those who participate will have opportunities to enter a drawing for a Library Card Sign-Up Month tote bag filled with library swag. Visitors may also have a chance to spin the library’s Wheel of Prizes and receive additional giveaways.

The campaign is part of National Library Card Sign-Up Month, an annual initiative of the American Library Association. The national effort highlights the role libraries play in communities and encourages people to sign up for cards and explore the services available to them.

For Mandel Public Library, the September campaign provides an opportunity to put many of those services in the spotlight at once. A student can use a card to get help with homework, an adult can borrow an audiobook or attend a class, a job seeker can explore career resources, and someone interested in technology can spend time learning about 3-D printing or podcast production.

There are also services designed simply to give people a place to relax, learn something new or connect with others. From book clubs and lectures to fitness classes and music activities, the library’s schedule covers a wide range of interests.

The library is encouraging residents who may not have visited recently to take another look at what their card provides. Existing cardholders can explore resources they may not have used before, while newcomers can sign up and begin using the collection and services.

Information about library card eligibility, required identification, online registration and other Mandel Public Library services is available through the library’s website. Residents can also call the library at (561) 868-7701, with TTY service available at 800-955-8771.

As National Library Card Sign-Up Month begins, Mandel Public Library is putting a fresh design on its card while making a familiar point: access to a library can mean access to education, technology, creativity, information and community resources, all through one card.