After accepting President Obama’s ConnectED Challenge, SFPL successfully launched library accounts to all SFUSD pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students. The Scholar Card eliminates barriers to access by providing students with a clean slate and no overdue fines. By uploading SFUSD student data to create library accounts, students received instant access to millions of free resources. The partnership with SFUSD also elevated the library’s role as a key educational partner.

Project involved data exchange from a new ILS computer program; new circulation, outreach procedures, webpage and opt-out-form; co-branded library cards featuring award-winning artist Christian Robinson’s illustrations; trilingual direct mail to 57,000 guardians; and a robust marketing campaign. The process bypassed the traditional paper application with a direct mail appeal. Internally, all staff levels were engaged and a new “branch buddy” system created to ensure all requests were processed by the close of the school year.

Launched in the final six weeks of the school year, during National Library Week, 15,513 students received Scholar Cards including 3,633 new library users from at-risk populations. Astoundingly, 19 entire schools requested cards for all students. Scholar Cards received unprecedented support from SFUSD leadership and the Mayor’s Office of Education. Internally, Scholar Cards fostered cross divisional collaboration and great pride. “We worked as a team to accomplish this important task in such a short time.”