A library card is your child's free ticket to books, CDs, DVDs, software, other multimedia, computers, toys, games, puzzles and more. Not only should getting your kids a library card be considered an important milestone, a library card is also a valuable tool they can use throughout their lives. Help your kids get a library card:

Why Should Kids Have a Library Card?

There are many benefits to allowing your kids to get a library card:
 

• A Love of Reading
  A library card will encourage your kids to checkout a variety of books. At home, you can make reading fun and bring those books to life. Even creating a reading space will get them excited about curling up with the library's massive selection of books. All of this will set your kids up for a lifelong love of reading.
   
• A Love of Learning
  Public libraries offer so many free programs and materials. The more you go to the library, the more your children will become fascinated with learning something new.
   
• Improved Performance at School
  These days, we turn on the computer and let our children write their reports based on what they find off a search engine. There's value to having that information at your fingertips, of course, but there's nothing like flipping through reference books, finding other titles that could serve as source materials and simply immersing yourself in information that's been verified vs. what Joe said on his blog about the Civil War.
   
• Responsibility
  Having their own library cards can teach your children valuable lessons in responsibility and following the rules. They'll have to keep up with the books, take good care of them and return them by the due date.
   

• Consequences
  If your children break the rules or miss the due date, they'll learn about consequences, such as having a library fine imposed and, if the library is strict, they won't be able to check out more books until that library fine is paid off.
   

When Can Kids Get a Library Card?

It depends on the library. Some libraries allow children to have library cards issued the second they're born. Other libraries have a minimum age, which is usually six years old.

When Should My Kids Get a Library Card?

Just because your children may be eligible for a library card doesn't mean you should rush out to get them one. You may want to make sure they are ready for the responsibilities of having their own card.

It's also fun to make getting a library card a special moment. Think of the great memories you can capture when you take pictures of your children being issued their library cards.­

What Kind of Documents Will I Need to Take to the Library?

Most libraries will require the parent's photo ID and may also require proof of residence, such as a water or electricity bill with your address printed on it. Other libraries will issue a library card to the child without a parent's ID but library privileges may be restricted until an adult's identity can be verified.

When is the Best Time to Sign Up for a Library Card?

Any time! If you want to wait until libraries are holding special promotions, one of the national events for families in September is the American Library Association's Library Card Sign-Up Month. The goal is to "remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all."