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Celebrate Back-to-School and Library Card Sign-Up Month with Timberland Regional Library!

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Timberland Regional Library supports students of all ages with easy-to-access resources in its 28 libraries and online, and an effortless process to obtain a library card.

Parents and teachers can access dozens of valuable educational resources online at TRL.org with their library card, said Timberland Regional Library Executive Director Cheryl Heywood.

“It is always important to TRL (Timberland Regional Library) to support our local students and educators, but that is especially true now,” Heywood said.

According to the Association of College and Research Libraries, a growing body of evidence suggests that students’ academic success is linked to library usage, including improved student retention and an enhanced academic experience.

“We want to help provide children and teens the best education possible, whether they are learning at home or in a school building,” Heywood said.

Learning resources offered by TRL include:

  • Programs and events for children and families.
  • Computers, printers, wi-fi and wi-fi printing with up to 100 free pages of printing per week.
  • Homework Help for kids and teens.
  • Interlibrary Loan, which allows patrons with a library card to check out materials that are not in the TRL collection.
  • Movies with a one-week checkout, and streaming documentaries and movies with five checkouts per month.
  • OverDrive ebooks, audiobooks and videos, OverDrive Kids Room, OverDrive Teens Room, and the OverDrive Remote Learning Room, which includes collections of eBooks and audiobooks for kids and teens that are always available.
  • TumbleBooks, which are eBooks for kids that are always available.
  • Scholastic Teachables.
  • Online courses for math, writing, technology skills, and many more subjects. Universal Class participants must be 16 or older to register.
  • Online courses for software and tech skills such as Linkedin Learning.
  • Language Learning, including the Little Pim & Muzzy videos through OverDrive and kids' language learning videos available in Kids Kanopy.
  • Pronunicator, which is language learning for older kids and adults.

Because TRL offers so many useful resources, TRL staff are inviting area residents to celebrate Library Card Sign Up Month in September.

“A TRL library card is a back-to-school essential,” Heywood said. “It’s free, making it one of the most cost-effective school supplies available, and signing up for a library card with us is so simple that you can do it from the comfort of home.”

Applying for an eCard is as easy as filling out and submitting a form. The card number will automatically display, granting instant access to eBooks, streaming movies and other digital resources.

Patrons can upgrade to a basic eCard by visiting a branch to verify their identity, and parents or guardians can verify ID for minors. A basic eCard allows patrons to place up to 10 physical items on hold.

To upgrade to a regular Card, patrons only need to verify their address. A regular card grants patrons the opportunity to borrow up to 50 items and place 50 items on hold in addition to accessing TRL’s online resources.

Special homeschool accounts can be granted to cardholders within the TRL service area: Thurston, Mason, Lewis Pacific and Grays Harbor counties. These accounts allow homeschoolers to access more materials for a longer check out period.

Homeschool accounts have an annual renewal and offer 5-week checkout periods on most items. They can be linked to existing accounts for easy access online and have the same checkout and hold limits as regular cards. To qualify, a current library card with a verified address is needed.

Students K-12 without a library card can also access many of TRL’s online resources through a special program called MyTRL. MyTRL is a partnership between TRL, local school districts and Capital Region Educational Service District (ESD) 113.

MyTRL enables students to access TRL’s vast electronic resources by logging in to TRL.org from school or home on any computer or device without needing a physical card. If the student already has a regular library card, the MyTRL login can serve as a second library account with online-only privileges.

Parents and legal guardians should contact their school district for information on whether the program is offered at their child’s school.

Visit TRL.org for current information on mask requirements and library hours. 

The above was provided by Timberland Regional Library. 

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