CONNECTING THE FUTURE: PUBLIC LIBRARY CARDS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS
Stephen Houser and Emily Kennedy Twin Lakes Library System
Percentage of population w/ library card by age, 2014 60% 45% 30% 15% 0% 1 7 4 4 4 4 4 + 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 5 6 o o o o o o o t t t t t t t h 2 8 5 5 5 5 t 1 1 2 3 4 5 r i B
Existing Student Card Models
Timeline September 2017 March 2017 June 2017 May 2017 July 2017 May 2018 Last forms Forms sent MOU Digital Pilot site Logistics received for home to signed and card option approval finalized w/ school year, parents, 1st approved request to from school last cards cards issued PINES PINES officals issued
Keys to Success Connect with school Start the process early media specialists Began in May 2017 … far too late! Provide data Distribute forms and cards Buy-in can ensure success of project
Opportunities for Improvement Promotion Data Sharing & Connections & Access Partnerships
Account is updated if there are Regular 2a. If account is no fines/fees located: Patron is issued another card if Application needed Process 1. Patron comes to ID is used to check library in person and for duplicate requests library card accounts Patron fills out an application 2b. If account is not New account is created and located: patron is issued a card in person
Digital Card 1. Forms sent to 2. School staff schools to deliver to create parents spreadsheets Application Parent/guardian fills School staff sends Process out required completed forms and information and sends spreadsheets the form back to the to the public library school 4b. If no 3. Applications are 4a. If duplicate 5. Schools duplicate checked by library account is distribute cards staff account is found: found: to students Student is given Against spreadsheets Fines may be Digital account is informational Against Evergreen for forgiven and/or card created brochure duplicate accounts is updated to digital
By the numbers 60% 45% 30% 15% 0% y y s s e h l l r m l l l g d i i a H H i d H m e i d M y y i n r a a a P c i w w w l l A i w d d d H i i l e w M M a i k B v e a e i v O k e a k L a L Percentage of Eligible Students Registered
Upgraded 15% Total Cards Issued: 846 Digital Cards Upgraded to Regular: 125 Active Cards 85%
The Takeaway In total, 846 digital cards were created. Of those accounts, 125 have been upgraded to full-service accounts! This increases the foot traffic, patron interactions, and number of circulations in the library - even apart from digital services.
Moving Forward: Time is the biggest expenditure, with the checking of applications against existing accounts being the largest component. Electronic assistance would be great in this aspect, especially if the spreadsheets could be automatically run against Evergreen to pick out duplicates faster. Ideally, the entire process could be streamlined with the potential use of Google forms (or other such online applications) to populate spreadsheets instead of relying on media specialists or school officials. This also reduces the amount of paperwork and the risk that something could be lost or accidentally omitted.
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