September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month; the perfect occasion for us to tell you – yet again – to get your Orange County Library System (Website) library card.
If you’re a regular Bungalower reader, then you know full well how much we love our local library system. They are a vital community service and resource. It’s also no secret, at least to us who already have library cards, that we’re blessed with one of the best libraries in the Country.
Seriously, it takes like two minutes to sign up. Just do it now here. I’ll time you.
Or, you can sign up in person this month and get one of these awesome holographic stickers (while supplies last):
Still not sold? Fine. We’ll play your game. Here’s some of our favorite OCLS cardholder benefits:
Free Home Delivery
OCLS offers unprecedented accessibility to its physical collection through the free home delivery service. Everything from movies, music, audiobooks, and bestsellers can be brought straight to your doorstep at no additional cost.
Local Wanderer
Speaking of accessibility, did you know that you can check out free tickets to museums and other cultural venues with your library card?
OCLS’ Local Wanderer program gives you special access to some of Central Florida’s best cultural institutions including Central Florida Zoo, Orlando Museum of Art, Orange County Regional History Center, and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
Learn more here.
Melrose Center
The crown jewel of the Orlando Public Library, The Melrose Center expands the role of the library as a provider of informal learning and technology education. Experienced instructors offer practical training relevant to the spaces, equipment and software available in the Center, allowing community members to be both contributors to and consumers of emerging technologies.
The Center offers an array of resources to inspire and support creativity and innovation, including fully-functional audio and video production studios.
Learn more about the Melrose Center here.
Pressreader
The Pressreader app gives cardholders unlimited access to over 6,000 newspapers and magazines from around the world, in 60+ languages – including the Orlando Sentinel!
The benefits of having a library card don’t stop there, though. OCLS also offers a seemingly ceaseless portfolio of lifelong learning resources and community-focused services, including:
- Social Workers
- Technology Classes
- Events and Programs
- Children’s Storytimes
- Fiber Arts Courses (Sewing, Knitting, and Weaving)
- Genealogy Services
- Live Musical Performances
- Language Learning
- Online Tutoring
- Academic Databases
- The Disney Collection
So, seriously, just get your damn library card.