As we continue to move toward more remote access, it has become an issue for libraries to stay connected to students and to remain part of their lives after graduation. The challenge is that libraries have often been on the outside when it comes to public education. Now that both entities are seeing decreased funding, the importance of a combined effort is clearer. The E-Access program makes the library a central component of the learning process in the schools by providing databases and other electronic content, which students can access at home or in the classroom to supplement the instruction. It also allows the community to see the library as a vital partner in education, not just something for fun, or old fashioned. Another challenge is the delivery of equal opportunity for all students. The E-Access program moves towards leveling the education process for students who do not have access to traditional library services. By this, students can hopefully learn to understand the importance of the library and its mission and be future funders. The traditional library card still remains the goal, but the E-Access card is the “gateway drug” to a lifelong learning experience of by introducing students to quality materials that they can continue to use after their school days are over.

The original design of E-Access card changed before the final version of the program was launched in September, 2013. The original idea was to provide students with a separate card which allowed both physical and digital content. However, materials would be lost and fines would accrue, resulting in cards being blocked. That was dropped to allow all students to receive an E-Access card, regardless of their regular library card status. That resulted in the digital content card which would be issued to all students who received the school- issued netbooks in Vanderbugh County. Two pilots occurred in 2012 which shaped the final design. One involved an elementary school and the other was a small experimental high school operated by the local public school system. The elementary school pilot suffered from the lack of student understanding on how to use the resources and the lack of on-site personnel to facilitate teacher and student training. The high school pilot had immediate administration support and the presence of school media personnel to give students a person to engage when questions arose. The success of the high school pilot led to rolling out the program to all Vanderburgh public high school students in the 2013-2014 school year. The 2013 rollout began in September and ended in March, 2014 with students in all five public high school receiving the cards. School and library IT professionals transferred student data for each school and the school media personnel were the main contact points to resolve the few issues that arose. The program was placed in the library’s new strategic plan and will result in the private high schools being added next year.

The evaluation of outcomes is still ongoing for the E-Access program. Since the final cards for this year were distributed with a little over a month remaining in the school year, the full impact will not be known until the end of the 2014-2015 school year. The anticipated outcomes are an increase in the use of digital library materials by high school students, the incorporation of library materials into teacher lesson plans, and a long-term increase in usage for all library materials. Since the E-Access cards allow the holder to access databases, e-books, e-audiobooks, and other digital materials, circulation for those areas should all rise as the program continues. A year-end survey of district educators will alert the library to the success of classroom integration. The general rise of all materials is expected as E-Access card holders graduate and acquire regular library cards in the future. The biggest lesson we learned was not to underestimate the importance of support within the schools. By having the school media professionals as partners, they reduced much of the problem solving time. We worked with them on several issues, including a problem with PIN numbers at one school. They were invaluable.