Halfway through Library Card Sign-up month, Austin Public Library has already noticed an increase in those signing up for library cards.

And it seems those from all ages are deciding to start library accounts this month.

Kindergarten students get special deal in September for getting a card -- a bag full of free goodies such as bookmarks, from the "Arthur" book series by Marc Brown. Library Director Christine McArdle-Rojo said 80 kindergarten students have signed for cards up as of Friday.

"Quite a few kindergartner kids come in and we've run out of (the goody bags)," said Anita Bruggeman, library assistant, adding that they have had to reorder more bags twice.

She also has noticed a number of adults signing up with their children.

A 92-year-old man signed up for a card this month for the first time and has come back in to use it, McArdle-Rojo said.

"We were excited about that," she said.

The library card sign-up drive is part of at national sign-up started by the American Library Association.

Last September 252 people signed up for cards at the library. The library will not have any numbers on this month's new library card holders until the end of the month, but McArdle-Rojo expects it to be about the same. On average, 150 people a month sign up for cards.

The past summer has been one of the busiest at the library on record, Bruggeman said, and with school starting, activity at the library has not slowed.

"It's been quite full," Bruggeman said. "We're busy here."

One of the reasons for the jump in use is the larger computer lab that opened this past spring. Between 80 and 90 people use the lab a day, she said.

"That's a huge increase compared to when we had three computers. That's bringing in a lot more people," Bruggeman said, adding that people check out books or movies after using the lab.

The library has ordered requests for new books and the DVDs also are very popular, she said.

Once students receive more project assignments, Bruggeman expects the evenings to be even busier.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at cari.quam@austindailyherald.com