Tacoma Public School Student ID Is A Working Library Card!

A Partnership Between Tacoma Public Library and Tacoma Public School District
Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.

The Pathway Program: A Partnership Between Tacoma Public Library and Tacoma Public School District

The Pathway Partnership, between Tacoma Public Library and Tacoma Public School District, returns for its fifth year.

Tacoma Public School students (K-12) can automatically use their student ID to access the following services:
  • Log in to computers with Internet and printing.
  • Check out five books or CDs. (DVDs excluded.)
  • Items checked out with student ID do not receive overdue fees. Fees still apply to lost or damaged items
  • Download eBooks and eAudiobooks
  • Visit our online Homework Center to access services like free Homework Help (great for secondary students) or BookFlix (animated streaming eBooks for elementary students)
  • Use technology to record an album or create a video in our Digital Media Lab, opens a new window

If you don’t have your student ID on you, you can still check out materials! Tell staff your student ID number and confirm information on your account. It’s that easy, and that’s not all. If you already have a full service library card (that checks out sixty items), you may use the student ID library card too. You can have both cards!

Are you ready to explore your online library account and reserve print books, CDs, or download eBooks? 

  • Click in the upper right hand corner on “Log in/My Account”
  • Type your student ID number into the field “Username or Barcode” and type 1234 into the “PIN” field.
  • You'll be able to create your library username and activate your online account
  • Once you have logged in, click on “Personal Information” to change your pin number and add an email address.

Click “Search” to find books or CDs, and click “Place a Hold” to reserve an item.

Educators and parents, would you like to learn more? Email youthservices@tacomalibrary.org

*If your parents chose not to share your (FERPA protected), opens a new window information with the Tacoma Library, then you will not be able to use your student ID as a library card. Talk to your school librarian to confirm if you were included in this partnership.

For more information about the Pathway Partnership

  • For Pathway Partnership cards, your PIN is 1234 unless you have changed it after creating your online account.

  • The partnership between Tacoma Public Library and Tacoma Public School District (TPS) allows every TPS student (Pre-K – 12) and teacher to have Tacoma Public Library access using their student or employee ID card.  

  • Click on “Log in/My Account” in the upper right hand corner of any page of the Tacoma Public Library website and then click on "Log In / Register". Type your student ID number into the field “Username or Barcode” and type 1234 into the “PIN” field.

    You'll be able to create your library username and activate your online account.

    Once you have logged in, consider clicking on “Personal Information” to change your pin number and add an email address or phone number.

  • Each school year there is a two week maintenance window starting on the Friday before Labor Day. During this time you will not be able to use your pathway account (school ID) while the library updates student and employee records for the new school year.    

  • Yes. If you log in to a library computer with your student ID then you may print documents for $0.10 a page for black and white and $0.20 a page for color. Print up to $5 worth of prints for free! Please note, paying for printouts is cash only.

View more about TPS Pathway Partnership