September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and the Elbert County Library District wants to make sure that all children and adults in Elbert County have the smartest card of all — a library card.

Studies show that children who are read to in the home and who use the library perform better in school and are more likely to continue to use the library as a source of lifetime learning.

“A library card has always been the most important school supply of all,” said Kari Baumann, library district director. “Kids can come to the library to get homework help and check out books, but they can also play games, check out music and DVDs and use the Internet to help make after school life fun.

“There’s a lot happening at our libraries, and the best part for both kids and parents is that it’s all free with a library card.”

Getting a library card is easy and is free to all residents of Elbert County. Visit any district library to complete and sign a library card application. Proper identification showing current address must be provided. Children younger than 18 may register for a card with a parent/guardian signing the application. The parent/guardian must show proper ID to register the child.

If you have lost your library card, you can bring in a food pantry donation and the $1 replacement fee will be waived during September.

Observed since 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month is a time when the American Library Association and libraries across the country remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all.

For more information, visit the branch nearest you: Elbert Library at 24489 Main St., Elbert, CO, 303-648-3533; Elizabeth Library at 207 Main St., Elizabeth, CO, 303-646-3416; Kiowa Library at 331 Comanche, Kiowa, CO, 303-621-2111, or Simla Library at 504 Washington Ave., Simla, CO, 719-541-2573, or visit the district’s Web site at www.elbertcountylibrary.org.

If you have gently used, working kitchen equipment, leathercraft tools, material and lace, sewing machines, etc. in which you are looking for a new home, please consider giving them to the Elbert County 4-H program.

“When people go through their cupboards cleaning, they usually find extra bowls or pans they never use. Maybe they used to decorate a lot of cakes and don’t do so any more,” said Sheila Kelley, 4-H youth development extension agent in Elbert County. “The 4-H program is always in need of equipment and supplies to use in their project meetings. We are currently trying to stock our Exhibit Hall kitchen with equipment to be able to offer our monthly foods and cake decorating project meetings and the Master Food Safety program activities.”

Other projects that would benefit from donations include leathercraft (tools and scrap leather); clothing (material, lace, trim, sewing machines); cake decorating (pans, tips, knives); gardening (seeds, gloves, hand tools); sportsfishing (tackle boxes, poles, lures); shooting sports (ammunition, targets, bow, arrows); woodworking (wood); heritage arts (wool, yarn, needles, macramé); small animals (pet carriers, combs and brushes).

If you’d like to donate any of these items or others to the program, contact Kelley at either Extension Office at 303-621-3162 or 719-541-2361. 4-H will provide a donation letter for use on taxes if requested.

Families struggling financially in this economy are now receiving less food from the Douglas/Elbert Task Force Food Bank because supplies have dwindled. In the first six months of 2009, the food bank provided 90 percent more food to families in need than in the same period in 2008.

August through October is historically the time when donations slow because of summer vacations and families getting children back to school. Grants and cash donations are used to purchase discounted food from Food Bank of the Rockies once a month, but it isn’t enough. Community donations are always needed to fill the gap.

Please pick up a few items the next time you shop. Items that can stretch are particularly helpful: hearty soups, canned stews, canned or frozen meat, peanut butter, jelly, healthy snacks, hamburger or chicken helper, rice-aroni, rice, pasta, canned fruit, juice, packages sauce mixes. The food bank has two commercial freezers to store frozen items and two commercial refrigerators for excess from your garden.

To organize a food drive contact Kathy D’Amore at 303-688-1114.