MOULTRIE, Ga. — September is Library Card Sign-up Month and the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library wants to make sure that you and your child have the smartest card of all – a library card.

Getting a library card is easy, a library spokeswoman said. Just come to the circulation counter, show the library clerk a photo ID, and fill out the required information. You’ll be given your new card to use immediately.

It’s  free. There’s no catch. The library just wants you to use the card to take advantage of what it has to offer. Nicholas Bakalar of The New York Times reported on a study of 3,650 people. He said, “Book readers live an average of two years longer than those who did not read at all.” One library patron said going to the library was  like going on a shopping spree at a book store without having to pay for anything! And that’s just talking about books – one can also find DVDs, magazines, audiobooks,  and digital downloads, and that’s not even factoring in the library’s public programming or databases and online resources. Wireless Internet and computers are available for use. The library’s online resources are available 24/7 through the library’s website.  

For more information on how you can sign up for your library card, visit the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library at 204 Fifth St. S.E. or call (229) 985-6540, or see the library’s Web site at http://mccls.org.  Library hours are Monday through Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; however, on Tuesday the library stays open until 8 p.m.

Other events this month include:

The Second Saturday Genealogy session on Sept. 9 from 10 to noon is for beginners or those who are interested in a refresher session on genealogical research. The class will begin talking about what one might want to find and where to look when searching for ancestors. Topics will include an introduction to genealogy, record keeping, census records and other resources. The group will spend some time in the Odom Library exploring the resources available on site.

Second Saturday Game Day for Adults will be held 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sept. 9.  Join fellow game lovers for an afternoon of fun. Play Hand & Foot, Scrabble, Rummikub, Uno, Checkers and more! Stop by and get in the game! The session is free.

Second Tuesday Brown Bag Book Club will meet on Sept. 12 from 11:30 -12:30. The theme for September is “Is the Doctor In?” Every month, the group has a theme, and members are expected (not required, of course!) to read a book that fits that theme. We do not all read the same book. It is all right if you do not read within that month’s theme, just come and share what you have read. Bring your own lunch. We provide coffee and water.

The Library’s Second Tuesday Crafters Club will meet Sept. 12 from 6-7:30 p.m.  September’s craft will be a knife pin or necklace created using flatware. This group is perfect for the casual crafter who enjoys doing something new each month. Activities are designed for adults but children third grade and up may attend with a parent. Each participant will be asked to pay a $5 fee for supplies. Reservations for September are required. Call the library at 229-985-6540 to reserve a seat. Supplies are limited.

International Dot Day Contest for grades Pre K-5. International Dot Day, a global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration, began when teacher Terry Shay introduced his classroom to Peter H. Reynolds’ book “The Dot” on Sept. 15, 2009. The library is holding its own celebration by way of a design contest. It is easy to participate. Stop by the library to pick up a design frame and registration form. Read the book “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds or watch the story on YouTube. Create your design and turn it into the library no later than Sept. 14. Winners will be announced on Sept. 18 by way of the library’s webpage and Facebook account. All entries will be displayed along the library corridor.

StoryTime in the Park: Bright Star Theatre Company Presents: “Alice in Wonderland” and “Bullysaurus Rex.” Both features will be performed at the Main Street Park on Friday, Sept 15. “Alice in Wonderland” begins at 10:30 a.m.. This Lewis Carroll literary classic is magically brought to life in this 45-minute adventure. Join Alice on her journey into the rabbit hole, packed with some eccentric and fantastical characters who take you on an imaginative ride. Following this performance, viewers will join Bullysaurus Rex traveling to the land before kind where Bullysaurus Rex is doing everything he can to stop the other dinosaurs from accepting and being kind to the new dinosaur on the block – Terri Dactyl. This show is designed to empower audiences with the tools to stop someone from bullying them and help end bullying when they see it. Bring blankets or chairs to enjoy this theater in the park. The group will also perform “Alice in Wonderland” at the Ryce Community Center at 3:30. StoryTime in the Park is presented by the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library System, Moultrie-Colquitt County Parks & Recreation, and The United Way.

The Library Stitchers will meet on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10 to noon. There is no fee and everyone is welcome to bring their own projects. Skill levels include beginners to the more advanced. Anyone who would like to learn to knit is welcome. There will be an instructor and basic supplies will be provided.

Pirate Day Celebration: As you are in the library on Sept. 19, don’t be surprised if people are saying, “Ahoy Matey,” “Avast” and many other pirate-like phrases, because it’s International Talk Like a Pirate Day. There will be a special story time for kids of all ages at 4:30 in the library. If you want to practice your pirate-ese, use your library card to log on to “Mango Languages” for a special course to help you through the day. Of course, you can learn any of 60-plus foreign languages while there.

Toddler StoryTime will be held on Sept. 25 and 29 at 10:30. This fun time is designed especially for children ages 2-4. StoryTime helps parents foster a lifelong love of books and reading in their children. It is not only fun for children, but also informative and engaging for the parents who attend with them.

Eat Your Backyard! The Southwest Georgia Conservancy and the Moultrie Library are hosting Scott Davis, a ranger at St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 26. He will present a program on edible wild plants that you might find in your backyard or in the forests of the South. Scott runs the milkweed nursery at St. Marks’s and is the president of the Magnolia Chapter of the Native Plant Society.