SALISBURY – Recent box office numbers for the long-awaited “The Incredibles II” confirm that these characters can conquer ticket sales while saving the world. This month, they take on a new challenge: serving as honorary chairs of Library Card Sign-up Month and using their superpowers to remind families, students and people of all ages that signing up for a library card is a great step toward a truly super lifestyle.

Library Card Sign-up Month, a nationwide campaign spearheaded by the American Library Association (ALA) that has been held each September since 1987, is a time to highlight the supportive role libraries and librarians play in transforming lives and communities through education. At Rowan Public Library, educational offerings include programs for all ages on a variety of subjects, free WiFi, access to physical and e-resources and materials and more. All of these outreaches have a singular goal in mind: Support the lifelong pursuit of knowledge for all people.

In recognition of RPL’s role in the community, the city of Salisbury and Rowan County commissioners have each declared September Library Card Sign-up Month. Copies of the 2018 proclamations are on display at all branches and posted on RPL’s website.

The Rowan Public Library System has three physical branches: Headquarters (Salisbury), East Branch (Rockwell), and South Rowan Regional (China Grove). Each physical branch offers customers a variety of services, including free WiFi, meeting rooms for community groups, access to books, audiobooks, and DVDs, periodicals for in-house perusing and computer lab usage. All branches provide public use of copiers and fax machines with a nominal fee.

RPL also has an eBranch that provides online 24/7 access to customers’ library accounts and a variety of accurate, reliable and free resources designed for at home use such as African-American Heritage, Gale Courses, AutoMate, Tumble Books and NC LIVE databases.

NC Digital Library, powered by Overdrive and accessed by the Libby app, offers a growing collection of eAudiobooks, eBooks, music, videos, digital versions of popular magazines and more. If you prefer all of your library work to be online, you can obtain a digital library card instead of the traditional physical card.

“RPL has received incredible support from our community over the years.” said Melissa Oleen, RPL deputy director, “Through Library Card Sign-Up Month, we want to celebrate this history and recognize current library card holders in addition to attracting new users to explore our diverse collections, free programs and services.”

RPL’s celebration of Library Card Sign-Up Month includes a Salsarita’s coupon offer, a raffle contest to win a Kindle Fire for cardholders, showings of the 2004 “The Incredibles,” and special Makerspace programs.

New cardholders — those who obtain a RPL card for the first time during the month of September — will receive a one-time use coupon for a free combo upgrade from Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill of Salisbury.

Existing and new customers whose accounts are in good standing as of Sept. 30 are eligible to win one Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8 tablet with case in the raffle contest sponsored by the Friends of Rowan Public Library.

Ten Kindles will be awarded: one new adult cardholder, one new juvenile cardholder, and one existing cardholder (adult or juvenile) at each branch, and one adult outreach cardholder. There’s a maximum of one entry per customer, and to be eligible to win, accounts must be in good standing. Winners will also receive a technology session with a librarian to set up their Kindles to access RPL’s online resources, which include digital books and audiobooks.

Showings of “The Incredibles” (PG, 115 min.) are open to the public, and all ages are welcome. However, per library policy, an adult must accompany any child 8 and under. All showings are on Saturdays: East Branch on Sept. 22 at 11 a.m., and South Rowan Regional on Sept. 29 at 10 a.m.

Special Makerspace programs have also been planned. South Rowan Regional hosted a drop-in on Sept. 4, and East Branch hosted one on Sept. 11. All ages are invited to stop by and experiment with 3D Doodle pens and learn how to build gadgets with a deluxe Little Bits Kit and more.

The ALA’s celebration of Library Card Sign-up Month includes a contest to win a VISA gift card worth $100. To enter, consider what makes your library incredible; then, share your story by posting text, picture(s), or a short video to Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #MyLibraryIsIncredible. Entries can also be posted directed to the “I Love Libraries” Facebook page. #MyLibraryIsIncredible entries that also include the hashtag #RowanPublicLibrary will be shared on RPL’s social media accounts and RPL Headquarters’ bulletin board. The ALA contest will randomly select its winner; more information can be found at www.ala.org.

Visit your nearest RPL branch to sign up for a library card today and take advantage of RPL’s free resources and many services. For more information, visit www.RowanPublicLibrary.org.