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The seven branches of Albemarle Regional Library (ARL) will help patrons become even more active and engaged in the month of September, as they help connect community members with three important elements of civic activity: the census, the election, and the library itself.

All of the ARL branches will help citizens “Be Counted. Be Active. Be Informed.” The libraries recognize how important it is for all citizens of this area to take active roles in their communities and to take part in civic engagement. Any resident of the Albemarle Region is invited and welcome to come to any of the seven branches. As a unified system, a patron with a library card at one branch is a patron who can use the services of all branches.”

The 2020 US Census is an important way for the entire Roanoke-Chowan area to “Be Counted” and be recognized by both federal and state agencies. It is important to this area that citizens complete the census so that proper data is collected. That population data helps determine funding at the federal and state levels, and all communities will want to be properly counted so that their information is best represented. The final deadline for submitting to the 2020 Census will be Sept. 30, so it is important that citizens “Be Counted” during the month of September. A computer will be set to the 2020 Census website at each branch for anyone needing to complete it.

The year 2020 is an election year. Come “Be Active” by registering to vote. Tuesday, Sept. 22 is National Voter Registration Day, but would-be voters are invited to register any day in September at any of the ARL branches. Being an active citizen strengthens all of the community, and ARL is happy to support the local Boards of Elections to help patrons become active and engaged members of their community by exercising the right to vote. Just come in and ask for a registration form.

September is also Library Card Sign-Up Month, as sponsored by the American Library Association. The Albemarle Regional Library is happy to welcome new “members” of our library as they register to receive library cards and to “Be Informed” as active patrons who use the library for research, reading, and information. Because they want all area citizens to have a library card, replacement cards will be free for the month of September if patrons need to procure them.

All patrons are reminded that when they come to the library, they are asked to wear a face covering, per the governor’s guidelines. If a patron does not have a face covering, he/she can purchase a mask at the branch for $1. ARL will have hand sanitizer on the premises and asks all patrons to keep social distance; branches have limited capacity, but all community members will have an opportunity to participate in these activities.

The branches of Albemarle Regional Library welcome all who wish to utilize the library’s services. Patrons can access ARL’s digital offerings and see collection holdings by going to www.arlnc.org. Come to ARL and “Be Counted. Be Active. Be Informed.”