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Children listen to stories at the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library on Lee Road in August 2015.

(Mary Kilpatrick, cleveland.com )

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Every child and teenager 18 should have a library card and take advantage of the services a library offers, say officials from nine library systems who are coordinating "A Card for Every Kid" initiative.

The effort to raise awareness of the importance of owning a library card will take place in September to coincide with National Library Card Sign Up Month.

The initiative also seeks to gain a better understanding of the roadblocks that keep some children and teens from owning a library card.

"Libraries are great equalizers. They offer any child access to books and other learning resources no matter what city they live in, no matter their socio-economic status," Euclid Public Library Director Kacie Armstrong said in a statement. "Every public library in our county shares the goal of ensuring that every child can check out materials at their neighborhood library."

During September all libraries in the county will actively encourage children and teens to sign up for a free library card, and offer one-time fine forgiveness to those who have been blocked or barred from using their library cards because they owe fines.

Additionally, each library system will invite parents to take a brief survey to gain a better understanding of parental attitudes toward library card ownership for their children.

"A surprising number of kids in our communities don't have their own library cards, and we want to better understand why," Armstrong said. "For instance, out of the approximately 11,000 residents under the age of 18 in the city of Euclid in 2014, roughly half had a library card. Is it because the parent didn't know their child could have their own card? Is it because the child doesn't want one? Are there other factors? Knowing this information will help us be more effective in our outreach to our families."

A Card for Every Kid was developed in response to the national ConnectED Library Challenge. Launched in spring 2015, ConnectED calls upon library directors to work with their mayors, school leaders and school librarians, to ensure every student has access to the learning resources and books of America's libraries.

The library systems participating in the initiative include Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library, Cleveland Public Library, Cuyahoga County Public Library, East Cleveland Public Library, Euclid Public Library, Lakewood Public Library, Rocky River Public Library, Shaker Heights Public Library and Westlake Public Library.