91´«Ã½

CHICAGO – September is Library Card Sign-up Month, when the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) joins libraries nationwide in reminding everyone that signing up for a library card is the first step on the path to academic success and lifelong learning.

Across the nation, libraries are hosting events and giveaways to display the benefits of a library card and showcase library services.

Since 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month is celebrated each September to coincide with the onset of the school year. Librarians are literacy experts, offering everything from preschool story hours to summer reading clubs that sustain school-year learning.

Libraries are also a resource for people of any age to find what they need to transform their quality of life. Libraries are the centers of their communities, places where people of all ages and backgrounds can find and freely use a diversity of resources, all under the expert guidance of librarians.

Today’s libraries expand beyond their traditional roles, providing more opportunities for community engagement and delivering new services that connect closely with patrons’ needs.

Public programs revolve around issues that are relevant to patrons, such as finding reliable health information, acquiring skills needed to thrive in today’s digital economy, succeeding in school and life and purchasing affordable health insurance.

According to latest figures from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, there are more than 171 million registered borrowers across public libraries in the U.S. Annually more than 1.3 billion visitors take advantage of free access to information and library services.

Libraries continue to transform to bring in new technologies to serve their users – including wireless Internet access, e-readers, library apps, 24/7 online reference help, e-books, video streaming and makerspaces.

This September Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” characters Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Bo Peep and friends are joining the 91´«Ã½ on an adventure to promote the value of a library card as Library Card Sign-up Month Honorary Chairs.

Additional information regarding Library Card Sign-up Month is available at .