MEETINGS AND EVENTS

GET A FREE PIERCE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM CARD AND ENTER TO WIN PRIZES!

By: Kit Thompson October 10, 2008

People may get free books, movies, music, audiobooks and more during Pierce County Library System’s second annual card drive, Wednesday, Oct. 1 through Friday, Oct. 31, 2008.

“I remember well how pleased we were to receive our cards. We felt that we now belonged to the community; that we had experienced a right of passage,” said Marilyn Perks, a Pierce County Library card holder. “Since I’ve retired, I’ve discovered the world of film and sometimes watch several films each week at zero cost. I would be totally lost without my local libraries—they are the best deal going.”

Currently 206,780 people have Pierce County Library cards, which is a 5 percent increase over this time last year. With the card people get an array of free services, including:
•Access to more than 1.3 million books, movies, CDs and more.
•Professional online tutors to help students with homework.
•Audiobooks and movies to download to a home computer or portable device.
•Credible, reliable information from e-sources of subscription magazines and more.
•Best-sellers, biographies and Playaways (small portable audio recordings of books).

Adults and kids can get a card online (www.piercecountylibrary.org/services/library-card) 24/7, at one of 17 library branches (www.piercecountylibrary.org/branches) or on one of three bookmobiles (www.piercecountylibrary.org/services/outreach/bookmobiles/) during open hours.

People who live in or own property in unincorporated Pierce County, Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Edgewood, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Milton, Orting, South Prairie, Steilacoom, Sumner, University Place, or Wilkeson, can get a free library card. Through a borrowing agreement with Puyallup Public Library and Tacoma Public Library, Puyallup and Tacoma residents may get free cards.

When people get a card at the library branch or on a bookmobile, they may enter a drawing to win a Wii or computer flash drive from Pierce County Library Foundation. People who already have a library card may enter the drawing by bringing a friend or family member to get a new card. Also, for people who haven’t used their card in two years, their card is invalid, so now is the time to get a new card.

“We help prepare children to read, help kids with homework, and offer adults resources to move from work to retirement or to other careers. Our many services at the library truly change lives,” said Neel Parikh, executive director of Pierce County Library. “We want every one to get and use a library card.”

During the Library’s first card drive in fall 2007, 5,532 people got cards. The Library issued 54 percent more library cards during the one-month card drive, than it did during the same time period in 2006.
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More about Pierce County Library System @ http://www.piercecountylibrary.org