D60 expands literacy partnership with Library District

A renewed partnership with the Pueblo City-County Library District will increase opportunities for district students and teachers to remain Present, Powerful and Empowered by Reading.

Just days away from the opening of the school year, Superintendent Dr. Barbara Kimzey reaffirmed our partnership with the library district to expand the Library Connect partnership in support of literacy, student success, access to information, and lifelong learning.

All D60 students and teachers have automatic access to all library district resources through a school ID number and eight-digit birthdate. No separate library card application is required.

"As part of our Present, Powerful, and Empowered by Reading initiative, where we in D60 are prioritizing literacy, we felt it was important to strengthen our already strong partnership with the library," Pueblo School District 60 Superintendent Dr. Barbara Kimzey said.

“The public library is an essential extension of the classroom, offering access to trusted information, digital resources, books, technology, and learning opportunities for every student” added Library District Executive Director Sherri Baca

Students and teachers can check out books, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, magazines, puppets and Seed Library packets and can also download digital media, access databases, and borrow Chromebooks and Wi-Fi hotspots.

Students can borrow up to 50 books at a time, including picture books, graphic novels and board books.

Their accounts also provide access to the library district’s online resources, including HelpNow for K-12 tutoring and test preparation, Mango for language learning, and Explora, a research platform with grade-specific resources.

Teachers receive the same benefits as regular library district cardholders while keeping their Library Connect account separate from their personal library card. Teachers can check out more than 300 books and other print materials, including graphic novels, board books and picture books.

This renewed agreement grew out of early conversations between Pueblo School District 60 and PCCLD officials centering on strengthening an already successful partnership and formalizing a shared commitment to literacy, student success, access to information and lifelong learning. Recognizing the impact that closer collaboration could have on educational outcomes throughout the community, District 60 and PCCLD worked together to develop a framework that would expand access to library resources and opportunities for students and families.

Dr. Kimzey continued, "The library serves as a vibrant literacy hub for our community, and D60 is honored to be part of that community. Today's agreement solidifies our commitment to partnering with our library to ensuring our entire community is empowered by reading."

As those discussions evolved, it became clear that including District 70 in this same initiative would further strengthen reach and impact.

“We are proud to work alongside our partners in education to ensure that students and teachers have the tools they need to learn, explore, and thrive,” Baca said.