Go Back to School With a Library Card!

Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association (MTEA)

The Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association and Milwaukee Public Library invite kids and families to obtain an important back-to-school supply - a library card.

September is both National Library Card Sign-Up Month and Literacy Awareness Month in Wisconsin.

"The best gift you can give your child is a library card," said Mayor Tom Barrett. "This month let's celebrate reading by getting and using a library card."

"We encourage families to share the joy of reading," said Bob Lehmann, president of MTEA. "Reading together just 10 minutes a day can help children improve skills."

All first-grade students in City of Milwaukee schools will receive a "Go Back to School with a Library Card" handout as school starts. Children can bring the handout to their neighborhood library during the month of September, and redeem it for a free pencil courtesy of MTEA, along with their very own library card. First-grade children who already have a library card also will receive a pencil when they use their card to check out a book.

1st grade students at Congress Early Childhood Center meet "Browser" the Library Lion and learn how to get a Library Card.

A City of Milwaukee Public Library card is free to everyone. To get a card, children must be able to print their first and last name. A parent or guardian also must sign the application for children under age 15.

The City of Milwaukee's Central Library, 12 neighborhood libraries and bookmobile offer millions of free books, videos, DVDs and CDs on every subject, as well as a variety of programs that support reading, such as homework help, preschool story hours, after-school and Saturday programs.

The Milwaukee Public Library, a member of the Greater Milwaukee Literacy Coalition, publishes "Where to Get Tutoring Help," a list of places that provide extra help for children and adults. The list is also available on the library webpage.