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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; In 1987, then-Secretary of Education William J. Bennett said every child should not only have a library card, but use it, too. The American Library Association organized Library Card Sign-up Month in response to Bennett&#8217;s remarks and has worked to make the library card part of every student&#8217;s school supply arsenal during subsequent Septembers. Signing up for one at The Osterhout Free Library is a simple process that facilitates access to a wealth of materials for both reference and leisure.</p><p>The Osterhout predates Bennett&#8217;s statement by just under 100 years&#8212;it was founded in 1889&#8212;but it&#8217;s far from archaic. A library card from the Osterhout gives its holder the ability to rent audiobooks, eBooks and digitized magazines or easily search for physical copies in other libraries. It also unlocks digital newspaper archives, genealogy software and study materials for everything from the GED to citizenship tests. All of this is possible without even stepping foot in the building after obtaining a card, but that&#8217;s not to say the brick and mortar library experience doesn&#8217;t have anything to offer.</p><p>The Osterhout&#8217;s catalog of online resources shows it&#8217;s digital savvy, but it&#8217;s not spending all its time staring at the computer screen; the library still offers traditional services like book lending, on-site Internet access and the use of microform equipment.</p><p>&#8220;Cardholders have access to all of the materials in the library,&#8221; Osterhout librarian Sandra Kobos said. &#8220;There are no restrictions. If you have a library card you can take out anything from the library except for items that are in our reference collection and some of our local reference items. Those aren&#8217;t able to be circulated.&#8221;</p><p>Kobos said there&#8217;s no limit to the amount of materials that can be checked out at one time for cardholders in good standing (fines not meeting or exceeding $5)&#8212;the one exception to the rule is the limit on movies and television shows. A maximum of seven movies can be checked out at one time and each patron is permitted to borrow a maximum of one full season of a television show. Gaining access to The Osterhout&#8217;s collection of materials is as easy as getting a library card, and getting a library card is as easy as following a few simple steps.</p><p>Luzerne County residents ages 18 and over can obtain a free library card by visiting the Osterhout or any of its branches with a utility bill, credit card bill, driver&#8217;s license or identification card that shows proof of Luzerne County address. Residents younger than 18 should bring along their parent or guardian, as their signature is required before any card can be issued.</p><p>Residents of Pennsylvania not residing in Luzerne County can obtain a Luzerne County library card for free if they can present a current card featuring the blue &#8220;Access Pennsylvania&#8221; sticker. This sticker gives the cardholder easy access to Pennsylvania&#8217;s network of libraries. Any card obtained this way is good for three years from date issued.</p><p>A Pennsylvania resident not residing in Luzerne County who doesn&#8217;t have a card featuring the sticker can obtain a library card at The Osterhout for $25 with ID showing proof of Pennsylvania address. Any card obtained this way is good for a year from date issued.</p><p>According to the ALA, Americans visit school, public and academic libraries three times more often than the movies. Cardholders at The Osterhout Free Library have a number of options; a card from The Osterhout can be used at any Osterhout or Hazelton Library branch, giving its holder access to 15 locations total.</p><p>Library Card Sign-Up Month is an initiative meant to introduce the year-round services offered by American libraries to a new audience. The libraries of Luzerne County provide a service to Pennsylvania residents of all ages, and the only prerequisite is a library card.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">You must fill out a one page form at the library. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090615library-card22.jpg</photo0><caption0>You must fill out a one page form at the library. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090615library-card32.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sandra Kobos checks the ID of the applicant. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090615library-card32.jpg</photo1><caption1>Sandra Kobos checks the ID of the applicant. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090615library-card42.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Librarian Sandra Kobos enters information into the library data base. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090615library-card42.jpg</photo2><caption2>Librarian Sandra Kobos enters information into the library data base. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090615library-card52.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A library card is issued. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090615library-card52.jpg</photo3><caption3>A library card is issued. </caption3><photoCredit3>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090615library-card62.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The borrower can then pick out books, DVDs and other materials. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090615library-card62.jpg</photo4><caption4>The borrower can then pick out books, DVDs and other materials. </caption4><photoCredit4>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>A local library card offers holders a variety of options</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Gene Axton</p><p>gaxton@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Gene Axton at 570-991-6121 or on Twitter @TLArts</p></shirttailMeta></div>

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September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and signing up for a card at The Osterhout Free Library is easy as 1, 2, 3