Library Secret: Your Library Card Says VIP on it Somewhere
Did you know that September is Library Card Sign-up Month? It makes sense– everyone’s going back to school and school means books and books mean exorbitant text book costs, out-of-stock signs and frantic bidding wars on ebay. All good reasons to get yourself a Library card, right?
There are a ton of other reasons to get a Library card and they all boil down to this: with a Library card you have red carpet access to a huge amount of incredible stuff here in the Library. We might not bring endless bottles of premium liquor to your table and the paparazzi might be asked to wait outside, but having a Library card definitely has it’s privileges. Here are a few:
- It’s only on VHS?! The video that you have to watch for class isn’t available on DVD but you haven’t seen a VCR since Clinton was president. Don’t worry– you can use your C.O.D. Library card to borrow a VHS player for up to 3 days.
- Cashflow problems. It’s time to register for classes, but you have an overdue fine from a book that you returned late because your roommate was using it to hold up a leg of the kitchen table. Normally, this isn’t a problem, but you’re also on vacation and can’t just pop into the Library to settle up. Got a computer? Got a credit card? Pay your fines online when you log into your Library account with your Library card.
- Your instructor does not want a handwritten essay. The paper is due in one hour– all you have to do is write a conclusion and submit it online. One snag: there are zero computers open in the Library. Take out that Library Card and head over to the Circulation Desk, my friend. You can checkout a laptop, connect to the Library’s wifi network, finish and send your paper and still have time to update your Facebook profile– laptops are available for 2 hours.
- Planning your group project is a little more entertaining than you thought. Everyone’s got great ideas and you’re getting a lot done, but apparently you’re enjoying yourselves a little too much– you’re getting dirty looks from some folks who are way too serious about their studying. Forget them– with one Library card you get a private room for your group of two or more for two hours. Dry erase markers are included with that deal, so be prepared to doodle.
- Go to C.O.D. Live near Benedictine. Work near North Central. You’re all over the place and some of those places aren’t conveniently located near the C.O.D. Library. But your C.O.D. Library card, driver’s license and current class schedule will get you borrowing rights at four local college and university libraries.
- Eat, sleep, breathe, and study online. Sometimes you just want to stay home and avoid every single person in the world, including… gasp!… librarians. That’s okay– we understand and won’t take it personally. It’s why we make it easy for you to stay away with an excellent collection of eBooks, online music and videos and more electronic articles from journals, magazines and databases than you can shake a eStick at. Just log in with your C.O.D. Library card and you’re in. And if you miss us, you can always IM us.
- We’ve got every book except the one you’re looking for. Doesn’t it seem like that’s always the way? Don’t worry, though– we’ll make it work for you. Use that handy Library card of yours to request the books, articles and book chapters that we don’t have. We’ll get them from a library that does and hand them over to you. For free.
- All work and no play make Jack… well, you know. Your college years are not meant to be drudgery. One person can only read so many scholarly articles and study so many anatomical models of the human leg. Rent a movie, checkout a graphic novel, borrow some CDs– with your Library card you can save money and save your sanity.
Convinced yet? Get a Library card already! Get yours at the Circulation Desk, online or even at the off-campus centers. It’s free, it’s easy and it’s smart.
Got your card already? Tell us what you use your Library card for– share your secrets in the comments below.
