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.
TPS Pathway Partnership FAQs
-
General Questions
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.
-
Student Access
For Pathway Partnership cards, your PIN is 1234 unless you have changed it after creating your online account.
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!
You may put a total of 5 physical items on hold. You may put up to 20 digital items (eBooks or eAudiobooks) on hold.
If you want to be able to put more items on hold, consider upgrading to a regular library card account.
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.
You may check out a total of 5 physical items. You may check out up to 20 digital items (eBooks or eAudiobooks).
If you want to be able to check out more items, consider upgrading to a regular library card account.
Yes! You may check out up to 20 digital items (eBooks or eAudiobooks) through Overdrive, one of the library's ebook providers.
Yes! Get 120 minutes of computer time per day and unlimited access to free WiFi.
Library computers are equipped with internet access, office software, and more.
If your parents chose not to share your (FERPA protected) information with Tacoma Public Library, then you will not be able to use your student ID as a library card. Talk to your Tacoma Public Schools librarian to confirm if you were included in this partnership.
If you do not have a school librarian, email us at youthservices@tacomalibrary.org.
You (the minor's Parent or Guardian) must visit a library location with your child.
Show staff your child's Tacoma Public School student ID, your own picture ID, and state that you would like the child’s student ID library card removed from the system.
If you received an Opt-In form regarding the Pathway Partnership, this means your family elected not to share any FERPA, opens a new window ( Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protected information with outside organizations.
The Opt-In form will allow your child’s information to be shared only with the Tacoma Public Library, but no other organizations. This will allow your child to use his/her student ID as a library card at the Tacoma Public Library.
To learn more about opting in or out of the Pathway program, visit your Tacoma Public Schools Librarian.
All parents are given the option to choose not to have their child take part in the Pathway Partnership, in compliance with FERPA, opens a new window (The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act).
If you do nothing your child will be able to use their student ID as a library card, but if you fill out and submit the Opt-Out form, opens a new window your child will be excluded from the program.
To learn more about opting in or out of the Pathway program, visit your Tacoma Public Schools Librarian.
-
Teacher Access
For Pathway Partnership cards, your PIN is 1234 unless you have changed it after creating your online account.
Yes! You may check out up to 20 digital items (eBooks or eAudiobooks) through Overdrive, one of the library's ebook providers.
At this time, teachers are not allowed to check out physical materials with their Tacoma Public School Employee ID. Teachers may check out up to 20 digital items (eBooks or eAudiobooks) through Overdrive, one of the library's ebook providers.
If you want to be able to check out physical materials, consider upgrading to a regular library card account.
-
Additional Information
For Pathway Partnership cards, your PIN is 1234 unless you have changed it after creating your online account.
Tacoma Public Library and Tacoma Public School District are both dedicated to providing the best possible education resources to students. To meet that goal we formed a partnership and created an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) that defines each of our roles in the partnership. Through this agreement Tacoma Public School District was able to provide limited student data to us, which we uploaded into our patron database or Integrated Library System (ILS). Because the student’s school ID number is a unique identifier, it can function as a library card number. Our ability to work together and serve students has been vastly improved by this collaboration. If you have further questions, email us at youthservices@tacomalibrary.org
Educators and parents can learn more about the pathway partnership by emailing youthservices@tacomalibrary.org