September is Library Card Sign-up Month – a time when the American Library Association and libraries across the country remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all.
In recognition of this month, Westchester Public Library will be hosting a Library Card Sign-up event on Saturday, September 12, from 9 AM - 2 PM, outside of Thomas Library. Come and spin the wheel for a chance to win a prize. New adult patrons will have a chance to enter their name in a raffle to win 'Dreams of Duneland : a pictorial history of the Indiana Dunes Region' and new juvenile patrons will have a chance to win 'H is for Hoosier - An Indiana Alphabet' book.
The observance of Library Card Sign-up Month was launched in 1987 to meet the challenge of then Secretary of Education William J. Bennett who said, “Let’s have a national campaign…every child should obtain a library card – and use it.” Since then, thousands of public and school libraries join each fall in a national effort to ensure every child does just that.
Libraries play an important role in the education and development of children. Studies show that children who are read to in the home and who use the library perform better in school and are more likely to continue to use the library as a source of lifetime learning.
Westchester Public Library (WPL) serves the residents of Westchester Township, but has reciprocal borrowing agreements with most of the other public libraries in the area. The towns of Chesterton, Porter, Burns Harbor, and Dune Acres are in the library district, with two branches available to patrons. The main branch, Thomas Library, is located at 200 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton (926-7696). Hageman Branch is located at 100 Francis Street, Porter (926-9080). The Westchester Township History Museum is an educational and cultural service of the library and is located at 700 W. Porter Avenue, Chesterton (983-9715).
WPL offers books, magazines, audio and videotapes, DVDs, audio-books, computers, software, e-books, etc. As well as Hoopla and OverDrive, online services that WPL patrons has access to. There is a wide range of other items on loan to children and their families, including toys, games, and puzzles. Simply use a WPL card to borrow most things for use at home. Library staff is on hand to help recommend materials suitable for various ages and interests.