KCLS works with schools across King County to ensure that every child has a public library card, but that isn’t always enough. In late 2015, the Bellevue School District approached KCLS with significant barriers to student use of public library resources. For some, getting to a library to obtain a traditional library card is difficult, if not impossible, while others may have trouble providing the required proof of residence. And kids who don’t return items on time may have fines or fees on their public library cards, which means they are blocked from using library resources.

With input from the Bellevue School District, KCLS staff modeled this program after others like it and added a service format that can quickly and easily be replicated. What differentiates this effort is the scale of implementation. KCLS’ goal is that all 232,000 students in 18 school districts across King County have a Student Account within a year. The Student Accounts program involves a new and collaborative partnership with each school district, including a Memorandum of Agreement, a virtually automated data sharing process, training, and a joint effort to communicate to parents, teachers and students.

The Student Accounts program makes it easier for students to access KCLS’ online resources as part of their school lives, and encourages teachers to use these resources to support and complement classroom curriculum. At the end of the 2015-16 school year, with district participation at 50%, KCLS has seen substantial increases in database use and is tracking eBook checkouts and online tutoring sessions. By removing barriers to accessing public library resources as part of their school lives, KCLS staff and teachers can both help young people build resource expertise that will serve them both now and into their futures.