September is Library Card Sign-Up Month in the United States. This year’s spokesman and Honorary Chair is baseball Hall of Famer (and author) Cal Ripken, Jr. Ripken joins the American Library Association in urging kids and adults alike to get a library card.

But what exactly can a library card do for you? It allows you to check out books, of course, but there is often more to it. Many public libraries now offer ebooks, computer and Internet access, databases (newspaper archives and geneology research are especially popular), audiobooks, classes and educational programming, conference rooms, free family movie nights and more. Don’t forget the DVDs either. Depending on your library, those movie rentals may even be free or about the same as a Redbox rental (Take that, Netflix Quixster).

As a GSU student, your PantherID is your library card for both the law library and the university library. You can also get cards for local public libraries as well, including the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, Dekalb County Public Library and Gwinnett County Public Library systems.