September is National Library Card Sign-up Month, and DPNR’s Division of Libraries, Archives & Museums wants to ensure that all children in the Virgin Islands have the smartest card of all – a library card.
Library Card Sign-Up Month has been observed since 1987 by the American Library Association (ALA). This year’s spokesman, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Troy Polamalu, agrees that a library card is “the smartest card” in his wallet. Libraries play an important role in the education and development of children. By providing school-age children with engaging programs, amazing collections, exposure to history, culture and technology, students from all backgrounds become excited and enthusiastic readers.
Studies show that children who are read to in the home and who use the library perform better in school and are more likely to continue to use the library as a source of lifetime learning according to Ingrid Bough, territorial director of Libraries, Archives & Museums.
With one’s own personalized library card he or she can not only visit the public libraries for books and services but can “Do more in your library” with many online features such as accessing free e-book online through the division’s Web site www.virginilandspubliclibraries.org such as having access to:
The Kid’s Zone - a specially crafted catalog that uses pictographic entries to assist juvenile searchers.

• “The I Need Material” Feature – a section of the online service that enables cardholders to request Inter-library loan service and make recommendations for new titles or added copies of existing titles.
• Personalized Search Service – a cardholder may construct under his/her profile extremely specialized searches of cataloged materials, such as the Caribbean special collections, by limiting or customizing certain search criteria.
• The Knowledge Portal – users can access directly the catalogs and resources of other libraries such as the Library of Congress, Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and the University of the Virgin Islands.
• Quick Links – the latest editions of standard reference materials such as dictionaries, encyclopedia, thesauri, World Fact Book, USA Government Information, National Geographic Maps and USPS Zip Code Directory among many others may be searched.
• My Account – the cardholder may review their library account status, including current due dates and overdue charges
• To get a library card at your library
• 1. Bring a picture ID,
• 2. Local utility bill and
• 3. Two local references*
*(References and contact e-mail address will be verified, before card is issued)
Overdue books are not a problem. During the month of September, library patrons can enjoy a whole month of book amnesty that will give library patrons an opportunity to return overdue books without having to pay late fees that may have accumulated. During amnesty month, clear those records of all existing late fees, excluding lost and damaged books. All patrons with overdue books should take this month to bring those back the books to any public library facility. Libraries encourage people to then check out more books with a clean slate.
Contact your public library today!
St. Croix
Florence Williams Public Library – 773-5715
Athalie McFarlane Petersen Public Library - 772-0315
St. Thomas
Enid M. Baa Public Library - 774-0630
St. John
Elaine I. Sprauve Public Library - 776-6359
For more information about the Virgin Islands Public Libraries, contact any of the public libraries or visit the Web site at www.virginislandspubliclibraries.org.