The Chapel Hill Public Library has announced a new initiative aimed at providing access to library resources for students, teachers and staff from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools system.

The IDEA Project is named because a school ID number gives “Easy Access” to library resources. With a school ID, students can do everything they could do with a regular library card – log in to research databases, check out books, and download digital materials.

In a release, Chapel Hill Public Library Director Susan Brown said the initiative helps support educational success.

“Ask a student for their ID number and they can most likely recite it from memory,” Brown said. “Ask them for their library card or card number, and they may have to dig for it. We want to make it as simple as possible to use the library, so we’ve worked out a way that the school ID can function as a library account number as well.”

The IDEA Project grew out of President Barack Obama’s national Leaders Library Card Challenge, which encouraged local leaders, schools and libraries to make sure every K-12 student had a library card and knew how to access information and resources.

“Our Town Library and the Schools share a focus on literacy and learning as a way to build a community where people thrive,” said Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger. “The IDEA Project is a natural next step in deepening a relationship that benefits everyone in Chapel Hill.”

The Orange County Public Library is also expanding access for students with its Student Easy Access program. Like the Chapel Hill Public Library’s initiative, this gives all Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools students access to the library’s online services such as tutoring, test prep and downloadable books.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to serve the students in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school district,” said Lucinda Munger, director of the Orange County Public Library. “Libraries working with schools to expand access to learning; it just makes sense.”

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