INDIANAPOLIS — A program operated by the Indianapolis Public Library will soon expand and enhance the learning experience for about 5,000 more Indianapolis students.
IndyPL's Shared System is essentially a network of physical and digital libraries across more than 60 schools, two specialty libraries, three museums and all 25 IndyPL locations.
"Students get library cards from their school library," said Sarah Batt, shared system manager. "They can request materials from other schools that are in the shared system or from public library branches, and we deliver the books to the school."
Using this tool, Batt said students have access to millions of books outside of what is housed inside their own school library.
"I don't think a single school can meet the needs of an entire student body," Batt said. "They just can't do it. If you look at 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' and how popular that is, they can afford a couple copies maybe, but they can't afford hundreds of copies."
Batt said because of that, the shared system also helps schools and families financially.
"It's a good way to leverage taxpayer money, I think," Batt said. "It's a good saving of money and time."
In spring 2024, the shared system is expanding to welcome 12 more IPS schools. Those 12 new schools will join 14 IPS schools already part of the system.
Batt said that will add about 5,000 students to the more than 8,800 IPS students already in the system.
"We know how important reading is to IPS," Batt said. "They've really made a big effort to emphasize the importance of reading."
Batt said IndyPL's Shared System is the largest in the state, serving more than 36,500 students in Indianapolis.
Plus, Batt said the system is one of the most comprehensive in the nation.
"That kind of collaboration just doesn't exist elsewhere in the country," Batt said.
Even if a child's school is not linked in the shared system yet, Batt said all 10 Indianapolis school districts give library cards to students.
That means all Indianapolis students can access the library's digital and physical libraries.
"Our libraries really are neat places to visit, just to kind of get away," Batt said. "We also encourage families to help their kids learn how to take care of books, so that they don't get lost of eaten by the dog or that kind of thing."
IndyPL also plans to bring back the summer reading program in a few months. Batt said it has become an annual tradition to encourage ongoing education for Indianapolis students.
"So they are not losing their reading skills that they've been working on all school year," said Batt.
In the meantime, Batt said the easiest way to sign up for a IndyPL card is by visiting a branch in person or online with a valid Marion County address.