September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, and as the American Library Association (ALA) says, “a library card is the most important school supply of all.” After all, public libraries give kids and adults free access to not only books, but a range of information, services, online databases, and even e-books.

Ways to Celebrate: Quit stocking up on Trapper Keepers and glue sticks for back to school. Head to your local library and get a child his or her very own library card.

Lost yours? Moved? Just haven’t made it into the library yet? Get yourself one too.

If you’ve already got your card, use it to check out a load of new reads, and say thanks to your local librarian.

Or watch a Chicago Bulls game. Luol Deng, two-time NBA All Star, is the 2013 Honorary Chair of Library Card Sign-up Month (I had no idea who this was before seeing the poster).

Bookswain Fact*: Founded in 1876, the ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world. It actively defends the right of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment (so go on in to the library and look up that thing you’ve been wondering about).

*Impress your most bookish friends and acquaintances with informative bookswain facts. You’ll be the hit of book clubs, libraries, and lonely dogs.