It’s Summer Account Time
Starting on May 1st, GPL’s Summer Accounts return. Stop by either library building during business hours, to apply or renew in-person, or utilize the Online Account Management system from the comfort of your home. Feel free to skip the “why’s” and jump to the “how’s” if you already know that you want your Summer Account.
Why Get a Summer Account?
Easy Exploration
This crowd-favorite account allows you to try out GPL as your library. There can be a fear that, like gym memberships, you might not use it as much as you’d hoped. You can get your single Summer Account for $15, and then if you indeed discover that you love and want to keep using your library?
You can then pay the $25 to convert to a full Non-Resident Account. At that point anyone 5 years old on up in your household can have their own card. It’s a low-risk/high reward option.
It’s a Brain-Booster
Those who tend to benefit most from having an exclusive Summer Account are parents who live within the Gretna School District, but are outside of Gretna’s municipal boundaries. This means that students have access to their great Gretna school library during the school year, and then can use GPL’s powerful resources during the summer. Bonus library time and access can reduce “summer brain drain” and prepare students for their upcoming grades.
Money Savings
Basically, it’s a frugal option for those who are keeping an eye on their budgets. A $15 investment (which breaks down to $3/month) unlocks hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of entertainment and beneficial resources. Why buy a $15 paperback to take to the beach when you can have thousands of options for your vacation reading?
The Nitty-Gritty
- $15 – cash, check, and credit cards are accepted
- Valid May 1st-August 31st
- One card per household; can be associated with multiple adults within the household
- May be converted to a Non-Resident Card for an additional $25.
“Yes! I want a Summer Account. How do I get one?”
First, you should make sure that you qualify for one. Read this page’s information to see GPL’s options. You can also refer to this page to compare us to other nearby libraries and this page to learn if your neighborhood is annexed.
After that, all you need to do is decide how you’d like to get your card:
- Stop by either library buildings during their respective business hours and fill out a form and pay. You’ll get your card immediately and be able to check out five items that day (then the checkout limit goes up to 35).
or - Use our online Library Account Management system to apply for an account and pay the $15 using a credit/debit card.
As soon as a librarian reviews/approves your application, your card will be mailed ASAP and should arrive within 5 business days. You will get immediate access to our resources as the librarian will email you your account number (handy for accessing eResources), and you can use your driver’s license to checkout items in-person.
Be sure to keep your library card in case you want to renew your Summer Account in the following years – otherwise you’ll need to pay a $2 replacement fee which must be done in-person with a current photo id.
And as always, don’t hesitate to reach out to a friendly GPL librarian with any questions about this.
