The Pioneer Library System is celebrating National Library Card Sign-Up Month early and will extend the celebration through March with various discount and freebie opportunities for cardholders at several participating businesses.
“It’s a win for everyone,” Christian Potts, PLS spokesman, said. “It’s good for customers and they can find incentives beyond the card.”
The national celebration is held each year in September but the library began its “Sport your library card” campaign in August. The campaign provides an opportunity for existing library cardholders, as well as new members, to receive special incentives from participating businesses for showing their library cards at the register.
“It’s like the credit card commercial that advised ‘don’t leave home without it,’” Gary Kramer, PLS public information officer, said. “We want our cardholders to realize that they can use their cards in many places beyond the library itself.”
Businesses that wish to participate in the program choose the type of incentive they will provide and the time frame it will be available. Customers may use their cards for promotions at these businesses even if they are outside their hometown.
Several businesses, including eight restaurants in Tecumseh and various other businesses in Blanchard, Norman, McLoud and elsewhere, have already agreed to participate in the campaign.
In addition to encouraging the public to obtain a free library card or to use an existing card, the program benefits the businesses and the library and helps the customers to save money on goods or services, Karen Bays, Shawnee Public Library branch manager, said.
“Ever since the economic downturn, there have been more people coming in,” she said. “Across the nation, library attendance is up.”
Bays said part of the reason for the increase in library visitors is the services, such as Internet, that are available free at the library. She said many businesses require applications, resumes and other materials be submitted online and the library makes that possible for those who do not have Internet access at home.
“Many people use the library as a way to look up jobs and it’s an economical way to spend time with family,” she said.
Potts said it’s also a good time for those without cards to get them and to begin taking advantage of these offers, as well as a way to reward existing cardholders.
Information about what businesses are participating and what incentives they are offering is available at the cardholder’s area library or online at www.sportyourlibrarycard.com. The list is updated daily with new partnering businesses, Potts said.
All residents, employees, students or property owners in Pottawatomie, McClain or Cleveland counties are eligible to receive the PLS card at no cost. The card may be obtained at any PLS library or online at www.justsoyouknow.us.
A virtual library card also is available for those who choose to use only online resources.
All PLS cards are accepted at any of the following PLS branches: Shawnee, Tecumseh, McLoud, Moore, Noble, Norman, Newcastle, Purcell, or Blanchard. The cards may also be used at the information stations at Macomb, Maud, Wanette, Asher, Little Axe, Byars, Dibble and Lexington.
Each library and information station accepts returned materials from any of the other PLS facilities, regardless of where an item was checked out.
In addition to the partnership between the library system and businesses, several sports-themed events and programs are in the planning stages at the PLS branches and will be announced throughout the campaign, when available.
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The Pioneer Library System is celebrating National Library Card Sign-Up Month early and will extend the celebration through March with various discount and freebie opportunities for cardholders at several participating businesses.
“It’s a win for everyone,” Christian Potts, PLS spokesman, said. “It’s good for customers and they can find incentives beyond the card.”
The national celebration is held each year in September but the library began its “Sport your library card” campaign in August. The campaign provides an opportunity for existing library cardholders, as well as new members, to receive special incentives from participating businesses for showing their library cards at the register.
“It’s like the credit card commercial that advised ‘don’t leave home without it,’” Gary Kramer, PLS public information officer, said. “We want our cardholders to realize that they can use their cards in many places beyond the library itself.”
Businesses that wish to participate in the program choose the type of incentive they will provide and the time frame it will be available. Customers may use their cards for promotions at these businesses even if they are outside their hometown.
Several businesses, including eight restaurants in Tecumseh and various other businesses in Blanchard, Norman, McLoud and elsewhere, have already agreed to participate in the campaign.
In addition to encouraging the public to obtain a free library card or to use an existing card, the program benefits the businesses and the library and helps the customers to save money on goods or services, Karen Bays, Shawnee Public Library branch manager, said.
“Ever since the economic downturn, there have been more people coming in,” she said. “Across the nation, library attendance is up.”
Bays said part of the reason for the increase in library visitors is the services, such as Internet, that are available free at the library. She said many businesses require applications, resumes and other materials be submitted online and the library makes that possible for those who do not have Internet access at home.
“Many people use the library as a way to look up jobs and it’s an economical way to spend time with family,” she said.
Potts said it’s also a good time for those without cards to get them and to begin taking advantage of these offers, as well as a way to reward existing cardholders.
Information about what businesses are participating and what incentives they are offering is available at the cardholder’s area library or online at www.sportyourlibrarycard.com. The list is updated daily with new partnering businesses, Potts said.
All residents, employees, students or property owners in Pottawatomie, McClain or Cleveland counties are eligible to receive the PLS card at no cost. The card may be obtained at any PLS library or online at www.justsoyouknow.us.
A virtual library card also is available for those who choose to use only online resources.
All PLS cards are accepted at any of the following PLS branches: Shawnee, Tecumseh, McLoud, Moore, Noble, Norman, Newcastle, Purcell, or Blanchard. The cards may also be used at the information stations at Macomb, Maud, Wanette, Asher, Little Axe, Byars, Dibble and Lexington.
Each library and information station accepts returned materials from any of the other PLS facilities, regardless of where an item was checked out.
In addition to the partnership between the library system and businesses, several sports-themed events and programs are in the planning stages at the PLS branches and will be announced throughout the campaign, when available.
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