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closeCounty library hosts second card drive
Library system wants to spread awareness of the services it offers and encourage locals to sign up for their own library card
Roxanne Cooke
Last October, 5,532 people signed up to receive library cards from the Pierce County Library System during its first card drive.
This year, the library hopes to increase that number to at least 8,000, said Mary Getchell, communications director of the Pierce County Library System. This year’s card drive runs during the entire month of October.
The library issued 54 percent more cards during last year’s one-month drive than it did during the same time period in 2006, Getchell said. Approximately 206,800 people currently have Pierce County Library cards, a 5 percent increase over this time last year.
Those who signed up during last year’s drive have become regular visitors, she said. Plus, there has been a 12 percent increase in items checked out from January through August this year compared to the same time in 2007.
“The drive was very successful,” Getchell said.
The library cards, which are free year-round, provide free access to books, movies, magazines, music and audio books, plus online tutors for students and access to download free audio books and movies.
Incentives for the card drive include a prize drawing for a Wii and computer flash drive. Those who already have a library card can enter the drawing by bringing a family member or friend to a library branch to sign up, and people who haven’t used their card in two years are eligible to get a new one.
The South Hill Pierce County Library will also have free Starbucks coffee available from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 4 as a promotion of the card drive.
The goal of the drive is increased awareness and knowledge of the libraries and library services, Getchell said. And because of recent increased growth in South Hill, Sumner and Bonney Lake, the library system wants those new people to know about — and use— the free services offered.
Getchell said many people still associate libraries with books and books alone. While that’s great, she said, the public should also be aware that libraries also offer movies, music, free downloads and tutoring for students.
“It really surprises people,” she said.
It’s also the goal of the library system to have multi-member families signing up to have one card per person, rather than one per family.
“We want to see every member of a family with a card,” Getchell said.
The Pierce County Library System will be working with Bethel, Franklin Pierce, Eatonville and White River school districts to meet with all eighth graders to share details about the live tutoring program and register the students for library cards.
Having access to a library and reading is an ongoing part of life, Getchell said. And it’s free.
“The library can change your life,” she said.
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ANNUAL PIERCE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM CARD DRIVE
The Pierce County Library System hosts its annual library card drive from Oct. 1 to 31. During that time, anyone who signs up for a library card, signs up a family member or friend for a card or renews their expired card can enter a drawing to win a Wii or a computer flash drive as a gift from the Pierce County Library Foundation.
Residents of unincorporated Pierce County, Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Edgewood, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Milton, Orting, South Prairie, Steilacoom, Sumner, University Place, Wilkeson, Puyallup and Tacoma can get a free library card. Cards are available year-round, but the prize drawing is only available in October.
To get a card, visit a Pierce County Library branch, a Pierce County bookmobile or sign up online at www.piercecountylibrary.org/services/library-card. Proof of residence is required, and an application must be filled out.
For more information on bookmobile locations, visit www.piercecountylibrary.org/services/outreach/bookmobiles.