We Won! Thank you, Somerville!

We knew you could do it, Somerville! Our fair city has won the library card sign-up competition that ran all last month against Lexington, Belmont and Arlington. Arlington challenged us to see who could get a higher percentage of card sign-ups in February 2013 compared to February 2012. Community pride was at stake – and we must say, you did your library and your community proud. Because of this campaign, Somerville now has 1,054 new library card owners. Arlington, Belmont and Somerville were all very close to the lead at the end of the month, but we leapt ahead, ending up with a 320% increase in sign-ups, while Arlington and Belmont both had close to a 200% increase. We will now conduct our raffle, as promised. A lucky new card owner will win a $50 Redbones gift certificate and another will win an e-book reader. To every resident who stopped by our tables at the Somerville Winter Farmers Market at the Armory and at Stop & Shop on McGrath Highway one snowy morning, to every patron who encouraged friends and family to sign up for a card, and to everyone who spread the word about the competition on social media, WE THANK YOU. Without your help and support, we simply couldn’t have done it. And it wasn’t just individuals who showed their support. Local business owners volunteered to give discounts at their stores for those who showed their brand new library cards. These businesses have generously agreed to continue giving discounts in March, so continue patronizing them. We’d like to thank them for championing our cause:

• Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square – Show your library card and your movie ticket and receive a free small popcorn.
• Kickass Cupcakes, 378 Highland Ave. – 10% off your purchase
• Flatbread Somerville/Sacco’s Bowl Heaven, 45 Day St. – Free bowling shoe rental
• Union Square Donuts, 201 Somerville Ave. – Buy any Union Square donut or an Ocean Ave Pop and receive a free small coffee through March.
• Magpie – 416 Highland Ave. – 10% off your purchase
• The Arts at the Armory Cafe – 191 Highland Ave. – 10% off your purchase.

As winners, Somerville will receive platters of baked goods delivered to them from the best local bakeries of Arlington, Belmont, and Lexington, in addition to a visit from Ryan Livergood, Arlington Public Library director, dressed as Clifford the Big Red Dog. The details of Clifford’s appearance at the library will be announced soon. So now that you have your new library card, what are you going to do with it? Check out books, sure. But you can also check out ebooks, audiobooks, CDs and DVDs; learn a new language; explore our databases to find out about your family history or land a new job; reserve free museum passes; and much more. And, keep in touch with us through this blog and by following/liking us on Facebook and Twitter.