Originally published in the Chillicothe Gazette on Sept. 7, 2025

If you are still paying for an audiobook streaming subscription or buying books from anywhere other than Wheatberry Books, we need to talk. I know we show up here every other week and talk about all the cool stuff at the library, but this month is special. September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, which means PRIZES!

Okay, not automatic prizes. This isn’t the goldfish game at the fair. But you will have a chance to win prizes simply by signing up for a library card or referring a friend to get a card.

I am constantly telling my friends and family that they should stop paying out of pocket for audiobooks. I personally use both hoopla and Libby to see which app gets me the book I want first. Something that may be a several-month wait on Libby may be an instant borrow on hoopla, which means I can listen immediately.

However, when you get a library card, you’ll gain access to all our physical materials and digital services. That means you can read every back issue of The Chillicothe Gazette online through our historical newspapers database. You can super-charge family research with resources like Ancestry library edition and Fold3 Military Records. Learn a new language with Mango Languages or choose from one of over 25,000 FREE video courses with Udemy. Want to stream music? Check out the Freegal app. Want to watch a movie? Browse the selection on Kanopy or hoopla.

Your card unlocks our Beyond Books catalog as well, allowing you to check out items ranging from American Girl Dolls to Tonie Boxes. Need a fun activity for your next party? Check out a tabletop Role Playing Game. Want to have an adventure? Try treasure hunting with our metal detector.

And speaking of treasure, let’s talk about that prize. This month only, sign-up for a new library card, or refer a friend to sign-up, and you’ll BOTH be entered to win library-related prizes. Even though it’s pretty clear that the card itself is the real prize.

Stop into any of our seven locations and level up your library experience. There is so much more to explore!

Sheena Brown is an audiobook enthusiast and general lover of stories who works as an Enrichment, Communications and Marketing Clerk for the Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library.