NBA Star Dwyane Wade Named Honorary Chair of Library Card Sign-up Month

CHICAGO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This month, Olympic gold medalist and 2008-2009 NBA top scoring player Dwyane Wade wants Americans to know that a library card is the "smartest card" in every wallet.

Wade is the Honorary Chair of Library Card Sign-up Month, sponsored by the American Library Association's Campaign for America's Libraries and public and school libraries across the country. Library Card Sign-up Month is a time to remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all.

Last September, Wade donated $25,000 through his Wade's World Foundation (www.wadesworldfoundation.org) to help save the struggling William Leonard Public Library in Robbins, Ill.

"A library is a critical part of any community," says Wade.  "It's place where everyone can go.  The whole world is within your reach when you have a library card, and it doesn't cost a thing," says Wade.  "A library card is the best – and most important – school supply of all."

This year's celebration takes place at a time when the decade-long trend of increased library usage has accelerated during the current economic downturn, according to a 2010 Harris Interactive poll. The 2010 Harris Interactive poll can been found at http://www.ala.org/ala/research/librarystats/2010HarrisPoll.pdf.  

The poll also indicates that more than 70 percent of Americans feel that by providing free access to materials and resources, public libraries play an important role in giving everyone a chance to succeed. In fact, as of 2009, 80 percent of libraries offer free homework help to students in their communities. Also, nearly all public libraries (99.1 percent) provide free Internet access. Additionally, 71 percent of those libraries are the only free public access point to the Internet in their communities.

The library also offers a wide range of tools for adults looking to learn new skills. A vast majority of public libraries help patrons complete online job applications (67 percent); provide access to job databases and other online resources (88 percent); civil service exam materials (75 percent); and offer software or other resources (69 percent) to help patrons create resumes and other employment materials.

The Campaign for America's Libraries (www.ala.org/@yourlibrary) is ALA's public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians. Thousands of libraries of all types – across the country and around the globe - use the Campaign's @ your library® brand. The Campaign is made possible by ALA's Library Champions, corporations and foundations.

The American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with approximately 62,000 members. Its mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services and public access to information. For more information on the ALA, please visit www.ala.org.

SOURCE American Library Association