County of Marin - News Releases - Student MyCard

For Immediate Release
October 23, 2023

Library Access Expands for Novato Students

Marin County Free Library unveils its Student MyCard Program

Se Amplía el Acceso a la Biblioteca Para los Estudiantes de Novato

JOINT NEWS RELEASE FROM MARIN COUNTY FREE LIBRARY AND NOVATO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

San Rafael, CA – The educational connection between young students and local libraries is getting stronger in Marin County.

Lana Adlawan, left, and Tracy Smith pose with an oversized Student MyCardMarin County Free Library Director Lana Adlawan (left) and Novato Unified School District Superintendent Tracy Smith are thrilled to launch the Student MyCard / MiTarjeta de Estudiante project. (Provided by NUSD)

The Marin County Free Library has kicked off its new Student MyCard /  MiTarjeta de Estudiante Project, a partnership with the Marin County Office of Education designed to ensure that all students have free and easy access to public library resources at home and on school campuses. The Novato Unified School District kicked off the Student MyCard / MiTarjeta de Estudiante Project, ensuring that 7,000 students have Marin County Free Library accounts at no cost. 

Novato public school students can access all library resources with their student ID number just as they would with a library card number. Resources suddenly available include:

  • virtual one-on-one tutoring sessions in English and Spanish
  • reference databases
  • books that support the district’s curriculum
    audiobooks
  • eBooks
  • magazines
  • district-supported databases

Teachers and students can utilize these resources together in the classroom to enrich and support curriculum, while also allowing students to enjoy library resources during the school day.

“It’s a great day when 7,000 students can easily connect to an abundance of resources available through their local library system,” said Lana Adlawan, Director of County Library Services. “The Student MyCard /  MiTarjeta de Estudiante Project program opens doors for all young people in our community to have access to information that enriches their lives, both personally and in partnership with our educational system.”

Middle school and high school students are automatically enrolled and have been given a MyCard account with access to the online library resources. Those who would like a physical card can inquire with a staff member at the main Novato library or the South Novato branch. Students enrolled in transitional kindergarten through fifth grade also get a physical library card, which will be delivered to school sites this fall by local library staff.

County Supervisor Eric Lucan, who represents District 5 residents in most of Novato, said he is excited that NUSD students get a chance to take Student MyCard system for the first spin.

“The library is a special place – available to our youth year-round, whether that be through story-time, teen book clubs, tutoring and homework helpers, internet access, or computer usage,” Lucan said. “Libraries are a place for youth to gather, instill a love of reading, and sometimes provide resources that may not be available at home.”

For more information about the program, visit marinlibrary.org/mycard.

Contact:

Lana Adlawan
Director
Marin County Free Library

3501 Civic Center Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 473-6051
Email: Lana Adlawan
Library website