A Library card is the key to great savings

As both a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library employee and customer, I’ve always known how valuable the Library is to me. Over the years, I have borrowed countless books, attended plenty of Saturday morning storytimes with my children and furthered my own learning through the amazing online resources available.

Thanks to the value calculator that the Library has made available, I was recently able to place a monetary amount on the many resources and services I have received from the Library and it is staggering. I have saved an estimated $46,915 (and counting) by using Charlotte Mecklenburg Library!

I have checked out close to 3,000 books from the Library- a number I know because it is stored in my borrower record. But that is just physical books and does not include the items I’ve checked out using Hoopla, Overdrive, and NC Digital Kids, which I use regularly. I also use Kanopy for watching animated videos of their favorite books with my children, LinkedIn Learning for my own professional development and the list goes on.

As far as the incredible programs that the Library offers, any parent of a young child knows there’s no monetary value you can place on attending Family Storytime on a rainy morning! The Library has always been a destination for my family, whether it is for storytime or a special event like EpicFest, a family literary festival held in the fall.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the Library has helped me feel connected at times when the prevailing tone in our world was one of isolation and disconnection. The Library’s quick shift to online programming made it possible for me to tune in to guest lecturers, activists and artists through the Library’s Engage 2020 initiative last year.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is constantly adapting to meet our needs as users, whether it is through virtual programming, increased access to technology for community members who need it most, job help resources, parent education and more.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. If you don’t already have a library card, I encourage you to get one and see how much value it will add to your life — you will be astounded!

CLICK HERE to sign up for a Library card and download the CMLibrary mobile app on your tablet or smartphone. Use the app to place holds, access resources and much more.

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This blog was written by Walker Doermann, librarian at SouthPark Regional Library