DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines Public Schools and the Des Moines Public Library have announced a partnership to expand access to learning materials for students.

The partnership gives DMPS students in grades 7-12 the ability to use their student ID card as a library card. Students will be able to use their IDs to enter all six DMPL locations, accessing in-person and online materials.

Linking student ID cards with library accounts will give students access to e-books, audiobooks, databases, study spaces, and technology tools that may not be available in the classroom or at home.

“This partnership is another example of how we can work together as a city to help our students succeed,” said Dr. Ian Roberts, superintendent of DMPS. “Strong reading skills are the foundation for all learning. By giving our students easy, direct access to the public library, we are expanding opportunities to explore, imagine, and grow both inside and outside the classroom.”

The program will start at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year and is expected to impact 12,000 students across Des Moines.