Free Connect Transit rides for library cardholders in September

BLOOMINGTON – To celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month in September, Connect Transit is partnering with the Bloomington and Normal public libraries to offer free bus rides to library card holders.

Passengers who present their library card when boarding a Connect Transit transit or mobility vehicle will receive a fare waiver, a press release said.

Since the libraries and Connect Transit launched this promotion in September 2022, Connect Transit has provided 45,667 free rides to library card holders and the libraries have added 795 new card holders, the press release said.

The American Library Association is promoting Library Card Sign-Up Month at the beginning of the school year with the goal of ensuring that every child applies for his or her own library card, the press release said. In Bloomington-Normal, the two public libraries already provide library cards to students in District 87 and Unit 5 schools.

To obtain a library card, Normal residents should visit bit.ly/normalcard, stop by the Normal Public Library’s temporary branch at 201 W. College Ave., or call 309-452-1757.

Bloomington residents should visit bit.ly/bplgetacard, stop by the Bloomington Public Library at 205 E. Olive St. or call 309-590-6120.

On August 1, representatives of the Bloomington Public Library cut the ribbon to open the newly expanded facility after 25 months of renovations and construction.