September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when the Greenville-Butler Co. Public Library joins the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide to remind parents, caregivers and students that signing up for a library card is the first step on the path to academic achievement and lifelong learning.

“With school starting up, this represents an excellent opportunity to remind parents about the public library and the resources we provide our children,” said GBCPL Director Kevin Pearcey.

Library cards are available free to all residents of Butler County, said Pearcey. A GBCPL Library Card allows you to check out books, music, DVDs, e and allows remote access to eBooks and audio books.

To acquire a library card, residents should come to the library’s circulation desk and present proper identification (driver’s license, or state ID card). Non-residential cards are also available for an annual fee. Parents and guardians will need to sign for a child under the age of 16 to get a card. To see the library’s policies on library cards, click here. 

Pearcey said the library is offering a special “Pete the Cat” bookmark and sticker for children this month as part of the promotion.

Additionally, Pearcey said September is the last month the library will be waiving all library fines and replacement library card fees ($5). The library has waived these fines/fees since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.

“We stopped fees and fines as a small way to help our patrons out during these uncertain times,” said Pearcey. “However, as these funds help us purchase various supplies, such as copying paper and toner, while also supporting our programming efforts, it’s come time for us to restore these charges.”