JONESBORO, Ark. — The Craighead County-Jonesboro Public Library is urging residents to make use of National Library Card Sign-Up Month this September by obtaining a physical library card, which officials say provides unique advantages over digital access alone.
Library staff work to register new patrons throughout the year, but September is when the focus shifts toward highlighting the benefits of having a physical card. Cody Jarrett, circulation manager at the library, points to incentives rolled out this month as reasons to stop by and sign up.
“We do a couple of extra incentives to be like, ‘this is a particularly good time to come in and get a card,’” Jarrett said.
Those advantages and giveaways attract not only local residents but also visitors from neighboring counties. Sharon Harshberger, who lives in Cherry Valley in nearby Cross County, shared that she drives to Jonesboro weekly to use the library’s gathering spaces, such as community meeting rooms.
“Sometimes you can get some really interesting opportunities if you pay attention to that calendar,” Harshberger said.
Aside from its role as a community hub, the library offers an array of physical media and serves as a gateway to online resources like the Libby app. While Libby provides access to thousands of e-books and audiobooks, Jarrett explained that popular titles often come with long digital waitlists. A physical card allows patrons to borrow items directly from the library’s shelves, potentially bypassing those delays.
“With the holds that you’re putting on digital items, what we’ve seen is a lot of times the waitlist on really popular new items can be a lot longer than for a physical copy,” Jarrett said.
Another benefit of a physical card is access to the library’s curated collection of DVDs. Jarrett noted the importance of offering both new releases and classic films, many of which are unavailable on streaming platforms.
“We try to keep a catalog of new releases and older things that maybe are going to be difficult, or sometimes impossible, to find on streaming services,” he said.
For Harshberger, the library’s ability to serve as a reliable community space stands out. She uses it for her weekly Bible study, emphasizing its value as a gathering place.
“It is a community space,” Harshberger said. “And we definitely need that.”
To encourage more sign-ups and renewals, the library is hosting giveaways through Sept. 30. Officials hope these efforts will highlight the diverse resources and services the physical card provides.