Item 4: Enhanced Library Cards — original pdf
Backup
Enhanced Library Card Austin Public Library | December 1, 2025 About us About Austin Public Library Locations: • Central Library • 20 Community Branches • Austin History Center Service Area: Individuals who reside in the following qualify for a free Library Card: • Austin Full Purpose jurisdiction • Austin 2 Mile extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), Austin 5 Mile ETJ, Austin LTD jurisdiction, are included in library service area. 3 Mission and Goals 4 Strategic Alignment APL’s Strategic Plan City of Austin Alignment Certified Welcoming Standards • SG1 Provide Community-Centric Programs & Services: We design services with and for our diverse communities. • SG3 Foster Stakeholder Relationships: We build partnerships • Culture & Lifelong Learning: Equitable access to educational, creative, and cultural opportunities. • Government That Works for All: Builds public trust and creates that strengthen community trust and space for belonging and voice. • GL 1.2 Government & Community Leadership: Intentional strategy for advancing immigrant inclusion across public services. • EA 2.0 Equitable Access: provides Provides translated materials, interpretation, and multilingual connection. • Economic Opportunity & outreach. • SG4 Expand Library Access: We make sure everyone can use the library, no matter where they live or what language they speak. Affordability: Promotes upward mobility through access to tools, jobs, and learning. • CE 2.0 Civic Engagement: Supports immigrants in participating fully in civic and public life. 5 APL’s Structure and Programming Director of Libraries Support Services (Facilities, IT, & HR) Public Services (Branch Services, Customer Access, Central Library, & History Center) Communications (Marketing, Outreach, & Programs and Strategic & Admin Services (Innovation, Passport Services, Sales & Events, Partnerships) Equity & Inclusion, Mentorship) Year-round programming: Partner-led Programming: • Core-programming (story times, toddler time, • Outdoor and active programming (biking, yoga, book clubs) scavenger hunts) • Signature & Heritage Month Programming • Sustainable Living (gardening, composting, zero- • Summer Programming waste) • Passive Programming (interactive displays & • Computer classes and language support take-home kits) • Outreach and pop-up services 6 What is an Enhanced Library Card? What is an Enhanced Library Card? • Library card for adults (18 or older) • Includes your library card number, photograph, address, date of birth, the expiration date, and legal & chosen or preferred name • Card can be used to checkout materials • Available at 9 branches & at outreach events: • Ruiz Branch • St. John Branch • Southeast Branch • Terrazas Branch • Central Library • Cepeda Branch • Little Walnut Creek Branch • Menchaca Road Branch • Milwood Branch 8 Background • Collaboration w. COA's Equity Office • Sponsored by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, District 2 with co-sponsorship of council • Researched other ELC initiatives from peer library systems – San Antonio, San Marcos, Harris County, Dallas • Initial budget of $11,500 for supplies • Phase 1 launch: Monday, May 1, 2023 • 3 locations (ALW, ASE, ASJ) 9 Who supports APL’s Enhanced Library Card? 10 Value of the Enhanced Library Card • Accessing Library Resources: To check-out books, laptops, hotspots, and other resources from the library. • Alternate Form of Identification: If you don't have a government-issued ID, an Enhanced Library Card can serve as an alternate form of identification. • Closes Barriers to Access: ELC supports community members who may face challenges obtaining traditional forms of identification, including newcomers, older adults, and individuals experiencing housing insecurity. • Accepted locally: The Enhanced Library Card is recognized by community partners and can be used to verify your identity or proof of residency for accessing social services. 11 How it is being used in the community • May be used as a secondary form of • Supporting social service applications such identification for banking purposes. as the Medical Access Program and WIC. • Assisting individuals in obtaining state- • Providing official documentation with issued ID cards by serving as interim preferred names and photos, offering identification. validation and recognition, especially • Providing a convenient alternative to carrying passports for identification valuable for individuals navigating gender identity confirmation processes. purposes. • Facilitating borrowing of books and other • Applying for admissions into educational resources from the library. programs 12 What does APL accept to verify identification? 13 What does APL accept to verify residency? 14 Community Response & Reach • Launched May 2023 at 3 sites • 551 cards in first month • 2024: Expansion of 9 additional ELC branch locations + outreach events • 2025: Major acceleration • As of Jan. 31st: 10,609 cards issued • Feb: Highest month with 1,523 new cards • Jan to May: +5,564 cards • Steady growth with spikes in March (742) • As of November 19, 2025: and October (506) • 18,757 Enhanced Library Cards issued 15 Community Response 16 Immigrant Engagement at APL Austin Public Library provides: • English Language Learning • Civic Navigation & Naturalizations • Cultural Connections • Multilingual Access • Outreach & Navigation 17 English Language Learning What we offer: • ESL Classes at multiple branches in partnership with community organizations • Talk Time: Conversation Circles to build everyday confidence and reduce isolation • Multilingual tech help and digital resources to support English learners Where It’s Happening: • Little Walnut Creek, Southeast Ruiz, Cepeda, St. John, Twin Oaks, Central, and more Starting June 2nd! Mondays from 9:30-11 AM or scan the QR code Twin Oaks Branch 1800 S 5th St. For dates, locations and more, please visit: library.austintexas.gov/events/talk-time library.austintexas.gov | Free and open to the public ADA accommodations (512)974-9975 or ask@austin.tx.libanswers.com 18 Civic Navigation & Naturalizations What we Offer: • Citizenship classes & exam prep resources • Naturalization ceremonies • Know Your Rights workshops • Legal aid, voter registration, and civic resource referrals Where It’s Happening: • Central Library, Ruiz, Southeast, University Hills, Little Walnut Creek, and community partner sites 19 Digital Resources for Library Users Ciudadanía Americana Curso de ciudadanía en línea para personas que hablan español. An online American citizenship course for Spanish-speakers. Inglés en 100 Días Curso acelerado online de inglés en 100 sesiones intensivas. Program for Spanish speakers to learn English in 100 intensive sessions. Transparent Language Learn over 110 world languages or American Sign Language. Includes English for speakers of over 30 languages and courses for children. Mango Languages Learn over 70 world languages, take more than 20 ESL/ELL courses, and improve your proficiency with Mango Movies. 20 Passport Services • Make appointments online, up to 3 days in advance. • Open on Saturdays at all four locations. • Open until 6 or 7pm weekdays at some locations • Ease of service - application and photos, helpful staff, and you’re at the library! Passport Services available at four locations • Central Library • Recycled Reads • Ruiz Branch • Spicewood Springs Branch https://library.austintexas.gov/passports 21 Cultural Connections What we Offer: • Annual Heritage Month Celebrations (Latinx Heritage Month, Black History Month, Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and more) • Heritage festivals & cultural celebrations • Community storytelling and oral history projects Where It’s Happening: • Across branches, green spaces, and cultural centers citywide 22 Multilingual Access What we Offer: • Bilingual signage and translated materials • Language-accessible story times, events, and digital help • World Languages Collection for reading, viewing, and listening in 20+ language • Staff training in language access and cultural responsiveness Where It’s Happening: • Citywide, with focus in linguistically isolated neighborhoods 23 Outreach & Navigation What we Offer: • Pop-up libraries and resources navigation at festivals, shelters, housing sites, and community centers • Culturally rooted ArtSmart programming, including: Día de los Niños, Cherry Blossom Festival, Día de los Muertos, Celebrating Asian Dragons, and more • ESL with Chinese-speaking seniors at Ladybird Apartments • Pop-up Enhanced Library Card (ELC) sign-ups • Literature Live Puppet Shows Where It’s Happening: • Citywide and at Festivals, cultural centers, and neighborhoods with high newcomer and LEP populations 24 Thank you! Christina Nelson Customer Access Division Manager Christina.nelson@austintexas.gov General Questions: 512-974-7400 or email ask@austin.tx.libanswers.com Jennifer Peters Programs & Partnerships Division Manager Jennifer.peters@austintexas.gov For Library Card questions and assistance: 512-974-7475 25