CONNECTING THE FUTURE: PUBLIC LIBRARY CARDS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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

0% 15% 30% 45% 60% B i r t h t

• 1

1 1 2 t

• 1

7 1 8 t

• 2

4 2 5 t

• 3

4 3 5 t

• 4

4 4 5 t

• 5

4 5 5 t

• 6

4 6 5 +

Existing Student Card Models

Timeline

Pilot site approval from PINES May 2017 June 2017 MOU signed and approved July 2017 Logistics finalized w/ school

• fficals

September 2017 Forms sent home to parents, 1st cards issued May 2018 Last forms received for school year, last cards issued March 2017 Digital card option request to PINES

Keys to Success

Connect with school media specialists

Provide data Distribute forms and cards Buy-in can ensure success of project

Start the process early

Began in May 2017 … far too late!

Opportunities for Improvement

Promotion Data Sharing & Access Connections & Partnerships

• 1. Patron comes to

library in person and requests library card

• 2a. If account is

located: ID is used to check for duplicate accounts Account is updated if there are no fines/fees Patron is issued another card if needed

• 2b. If account is not

located: Patron fills out an application New account is created and patron is issued a card in person

Regular Application Process

Digital Card Application Process

• 1. Forms sent to

schools to deliver to parents

• 2. School staff

create spreadsheets Parent/guardian fills

• ut required

information and sends the form back to the school School staff sends completed forms and spreadsheets to the public library

• 3. Applications are

checked by library staff Against spreadsheets Against Evergreen for duplicate accounts

• 4a. If duplicate

account is found: Fines may be forgiven and/or card is updated to digital

• 4b. If no

duplicate account is found: Digital account is created

• 5. Schools

distribute cards to students Student is given informational brochure

0% 15% 30% 45% 60% L a k e v i e w P r i m a r y L a k e v i e w A c a d e m y M i d w a y H i l l s M i d w a y H i l l s O a k H i l l M i d d l e B a l d w i n H i g h

Percentage of Eligible Students Registered

By the numbers

Active Cards 85% Upgraded 15%

Total Cards Issued: 846 Digital Cards Upgraded to Regular: 125

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

• n media specialists or school officials. This also reduces the amount of paperwork

and the risk that something could be lost or accidentally omitted.

Questions?