Have you received exceptional assistance from a librarian? Has your library made a difference in your life? The 'I Love My Librarian' award encourages library users to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional librarians.

You can nominate your librarian for the third year of the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award!  Nominations for 2010 stay open through September 20.

Do you know someone who might benefit from online database access? Children's storytimes? Free Internet access? Books on CD? Downloadable audiobooks? 

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, observed nationally since 1987, and the Ventura County Library wants to make sure all residents of Ventura County have the smartest card of all – a library card.

Getting a library card is easy.  Visit a Ventura County Library, complete the library card application form and present it at the circulation desk along with picture identification showing your current street address.

“Your library card is the most important school supply of all,” says our Library Director, Jackie Griffin.  “There’s a lot happening at Ventura County Library, and the best part for both children and parents, especially in these tough economic times, is that it’s all free with a library card.”

There's a whole world waiting for you @ your library!

It's now easier than ever for users of the iPhone to access library databases. Gale's AccessMyLibrary Public uses GPS to find public libraries within a 10-mile radius of the user's location.

Download through your phone's App Store or visit Gale's AccessMyLibrary download page for more information. Our eLibrary's A to Z list has links to the app for each available database. Identical apps are in-the-works for the Android and Blackberry.

Does the content of this video sound familiar? Around the country, as library use goes up - budgets continue to be cut. Keep an eye on this page to learn how you can advocate for your library!

May 10th is Personal Archiving Day and kicks off Preservation Week. Learn how to preserve many different kinds of digital materials, using our Library of Congress links and this handy, pdf guide on Preserving Your Digital Memories.

Don't forget to manage your material in other formats: home movies, sound recordings, print photography and documents. See the Library of Congress' Preservation FAQ.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

This year's Women's History Month theme recognizes the diverse accomplishments of women throughout history. Explore the history of generations of women whose commitment to nature and humanity have proved invaluable to society.

Gale PowerSearch on our eLibrary page is a great place to start along with Biography Resource Center, the History Resource Centers and World Book.

Our photo is of American suffragist Alice Paul unfurling a banner off the balcony of the National Women's Party headquarters in Washington, D.C. in August 1920 (from General Reference Center Gold, 2009.)