Jim Grant/Nevada AppealCarson Middle School students Alyssa Lopez, left, and Ashley Lyford escort Amber Sady dressed as children's book character Geronimo Stilton to class rooms on Tuesday morning and announce that all students will receive public library cards.
This is the fifth in a six-week Literacy for Life series aimed at bringing attention to the importance of literacy in the community.
Alyssa Lopez, 14, had a library card for about seven years in Las Vegas and used it regularly. However, since moving to Carson City about two years ago, she hasn't signed up for one here.
"I've never known how to get one," she said.
Instead, she visits the library to do her homework or use the computers.
Youth Services Librarian Amber Sady said Lopez is missing out on so much more the library has to offer, and she's not the only one.
"A lot of students don't know what services we have," she said. "They don't even have to come to the library to take advantage of them."
As part of the Literacy for Life campaign, the Carson City Library is partnering with the school district to provide every student with a library card.
"Oh my gosh, it's about time," said Carson Middle School librarian Ananda Campbell. "There are so many programs available through the library that we need the students to have access to. It puts the students on equal footing."
Sady visited Carson Middle School on Tuesday, kicking off the program. Dressed as Geronimo Stilton, a character from a children's book series about a crime-solving newspaper editor, she visited classrooms with student aides from the library.
The students explained to their peers that they will all begin receiving their cards today.
Challen Wright, 13, who is in the process of organizing his home library according to the Dewey Decimal System, already has a library card. However, he was eager to share the program with his fellow students.
"I think it's really great. It can help raise their grades," he said. "Instead of worrying about where they can get their information, they'll just go down to the library and check out a book. It's much easier."
But a library card will provide students with access to more than just books.
With a library card, students can log on free of charge for help with their homework through Tutor.com or BrainFuse.
The card will also give them access to a variety of databases offered through the library. With their cards, they can sign on to them from their home and school computers as well. Those services are available to all students, but charge a fee to those without a library card.
The databases are expensive, Campbell explained, and not all schools can afford them. However, they are useful tools for students.
"Part of what we teach is how to find reliable information online," she said. "It's easy to Google it. It's more difficult to determine if it's accurate."
The cards will be distributed to Carson Middle School students today and will continue at schools throughout the district over the next several months until every student receives one.
The program is based on one in Salinas, Calif., as part of that city's effort to fight gang problems.
For more information, call the library at 887-2244 or carsoncitylibrary.org.
Literacy for Life Golf Tournament
The second annual Literacy for Life Golf Tournament to benefit literacy in Northern Nevada will begin at 9 a.m. Oct. 15 with a shotgun start at Thunder Canyon Golf Course. It will be a standard scramble format, with hole prizes and a raffle.
Funds raised will support effective community programs created to teach adults to read, as well as providing newspapers to area schools.
The cost is $120 and includes cart, shirt, goody bags with balls, towel and other gifts, and lunch at Thunder Canyon.
Call 882-2111 for more information or to register.