Connecting Charleston Through a Community Resource
What can start with a library card?
September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, making this a good time to celebrate a resource already available in the heart of Charleston: the Tallahatchie County Public Library.
A library card may be small, but what it can open is much bigger. It connects people to books, information, ideas, creativity, and opportunities to keep learning throughout life. And when more people use the resources already available in their community, those resources can create even greater value.
That is why this month is also a Charleston Thrives progress story.
The library connects naturally to priorities across Charleston Thrives. Education comes to life through reading and learning. Culture & Arts are encouraged through stories, creativity, and exploration. Access to information can help people become more informed and engaged in their community, supporting Government & Civic Engagement. Learning can help people build knowledge and skills that contribute to Economic Opportunity. Reliable information can help people better understand topics that affect Health & Well-Being.
The connections are especially visible this month. As shared in an earlier column, students from Charleston schools and Head Start programs are visiting the library for tours, story time, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, and library card sign-ups for eligible students. Library Community Outreach Director Audra Brown and the library team are helping welcome young people through the doors and connect them to resources they can return to again and again.
But National Library Card Sign-Up Month is not only for students. It is an invitation to all of Charleston.
If you do not have a library card, September is a great time to get one. Tallahatchie County residents ages 6 and older can receive a card at no cost by visiting the library with a photo ID and proof of residence. Parents, grandparents, caregivers, educators, and neighbors can also help by encouraging others to sign up and, just as importantly, use their cards.
The Tallahatchie County Public Library is located at 102 E. Walnut St. in Charleston. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. –4:30 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Making Progress Together is about recognizing the people and resources Charleston already has, connecting more people to them, and finding ways for everyone to participate. This month, getting a library card is one simple way to do exactly that.
If you see progress happening across Charleston, we hope you will share it with me and with each other.
Email cheryl@sonedna.com.
Charleston Thrives is a community-led effort supported by SonEdna Foundation that brings people together to recognize progress already happening across Charleston and carry it forward together. Through shared experiences, conversations and participation, Charleston Thrives helps people see their place in the future of the community and how they can help shape it. Focus areas include Government & Civic Engagement, Education, Economic Opportunity, Health & Well-Being, and Culture & Arts. Follow how Charleston Thrives is Making Progress Together: Facebook.com/sonednafoundation | Instagram.com/sonednafoundation | and at Linkedin.com/company/sonedna-foundation.
