ONE Access

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

When libraries and schools work together, everyone wins. In 2015, the Pew Research Center released a study that said 85% of Americans want libraries to work more closely with local schools to provide resources. Later that year, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte accepted the White House’s ConnectED Library Challenge, pledging to provide students with easily accessible information and educational resources. By the end of 2015, that pledge became a reality as more than 100,000 of 147,000 CMS students accessed Library services using their student IDs in an initiative called ONE Access, or “One Number Equals Access.” ONE Access uses students' school identification numbers instead of separate library cards. With ONE Access, CMS students can access Library research databases; borrow digital materials such as e-books, e-audiobooks, magazines, music and video; and borrow up to 10 print or audio books. They do not have to pay overdue fines. ONE Access is part of an ongoing commitment by the Library and CMS to benefit the community by increasing literacy and educational success. www.cmlibrary.org/oneaccess