The results of the Library Card Sign Up Challenge are in, and I am proud to report that Arlington nearly tripled new library card registrations in February! While we didn’t quite come out on top in our friendly competition with Belmont, Lexington, and Somerville, we did manage to increase new library card registrations in February by 183% compared to February 2012. While we were very close to the lead going into the final week of February, Somerville pulled away in the end with a 320% total increase, followed by Belmont with a 186% total increase.
While we really wanted to be first in the overall standings of the Library Card Sign Up Challenge, we are thrilled with the overall results. Among our goals of this friendly competition were to promote the tremendous value of the library card and promote the many fantastic services our libraries offer in all of our communities, and it is very clear we successfully met these goals.
Somerville’s prize for winning the competition includes platters of baked goods delivered to them from the best local bakeries of Arlington, Belmont, and Lexington, in addition to a visit from me dressed as Clifford the Big Red Dog. I will share with everyone the details of my visit to the Somerville Public Library dressed as Clifford once it is scheduled in case you would like to come and see it for yourself!
I am so pleased with the tremendous support we received from you, our amazing community, and our many great partners which helped make this campaign a success, including the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and the 27 local businesses that worked with us to promote the Library Card Sign Up Challenge. Thank you so much once again for helping us make this campaign such a success.
Sincerely,
Ryan Livergood
Director of Libraries
Town of Arlington
