Torrey Parks of the Onslow County Public Library said September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month and encouraged all Onslow County residents (children five and older) to obtain a free library card, which grants access to four county branches and to borrowing books, DVDs and storytelling kits.

Parks noted the system has four branches: the main branch in Jacksonville (near Jacksonville High School), Richlands, Sneads Ferry and Swansboro. She said the library can borrow materials from other North Carolina counties if an item is not on local shelves and that the fall newsletter lists more than 115 programs for the quarter, with youth programming starting Sept. 9, book sales, author events and a rent-fair in October.

Parks said cardholders who sign up in September may receive promotional items such as branded cups, pencils or bookmarks. She said children five and older can have a card and must be able to sign their name, and that the library shares event information via its newsletter and Facebook page.

Ending: The library asked residents, especially newcomers, to get a card in September to access materials and programs; more details are available in the fall newsletter on the library website and on Facebook.