By Kirkland An,Katherine Feser,Nusaiba Mizan, Advocates tout enhanced Harris County library cards, urge authorities to accept them as ID, The Chronicle 100: Houston's top companies, auto models and more. Step 1: Yes, you can get a full-service HCPL Knowledge card in person at any HCPL branch. Kristian Caballero, director of community outreach for Texas Appleseed, speaks about the launch of the Harris County Public Library systems new enhanced library cards during a press conference Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at the Harris County Public Library Fairbanks Branch in Houston. Enhanced+ Library Cards are available to library users of any age. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) Living without a photo ID can come with several challenges. While TOP and other advocacy groups initiated the project with immigrant and undocumented communities in mind, the cards have also been beneficial for unhoused people, formerly incarcerated individuals, folks working toward ID recovery following fraud or a natural disaster, and LGBTQ people in need of gender-affirming identification. Library Cards. The Texas Organizing Project held a demonstration in February to urge Houston police to recognize the enhanced library cards, following a successful push in San Antonio to adopt a similar initiative. We saw how hard it was for [residents] to get electricity, rent an apartment, open a bank account, or pick up their children from school without them, says Damaris Gonzalez, an immigration rights organizer with the nonprofit Texas Organizing Project (TOP), which has been advocating for enhanced library cards in the state. WebYou can use your Harris County Public Library card to borrow titles from these partner libraries: Bryan and College Station Public Library System. Enhanced library cards can be used as a su pplemental form of Photo ID. Until changes were implemented, patrons had to present a Texas drivers license or photo ID or an electric bill with their name on it to get these new cards. All you need is proof of address and a completed library card application form, or you can go paperless by swiping yourID at the kiosk in branch. The HCPL Knowledge Card is our full-service library card. Itll make things easier for us because in a lot of official places, when you show your (foreign) consular ID, youre basically telling people youre undocumented because youre not showing a Texas ID, De La Rosa said in Spanish. You may need to bring more than one document to prove your identity. You will need to present original or certified copies of the required documents when you apply for a card. Daisy Osorio fills out an application for the Harris County Public Library systems new enhanced library card Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at the Harris County Public Library Fairbanks Branch in Houston. nhanced+ Library Card does not replace the HCPL full-service Knowledge Card. Over a dozen Harris County residents filled out applications Tuesday morning at the Fairbanks Branch Library, where employees took their photos in front of a blue backdrop and said applicants could expect their new enhanced library card in the mail soon. In the future, Melton envisions issuing iKnow cards via email to all county employees. Local community groups celebrated the new library cards Tuesday morning outside the Fairbanks Branch Library in northwest Houston, the latest step in an ongoing campaign to make IDs more accessible to Harris Countys most vulnerable residents. Search the New Catalog. Compared with municipal IDs available in New York City and elsewhere, enhanced library cards via public libraries are safer, Gonzalez says, because public libraries protect patron privacy and are not subject to SB4. Showing 1-24 of 1,000 results. Webharriscountypl. WebEventON does not fully support FSE themes at this moment! In our area so far, they said the Harris County Sheriffs Office and Harris Health are the two agencies that have agreed to accept the cards as valid photo identification. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Southeast Branch, 5803 Nuckols Crossing Rd. Weve written about the amazing benefits of registering for a digital library card from the TSLL in previous blog posts. Ultimately, they hope the Enhanced+ library card will be accepted across the state. Its also become a fixture of local debate around how to address homelessness in one pocket of San Francisco. We envisioned a club where students, teachers, and caregivers could share a common experience around literature. Residency must also be verified through forms like a property lease, utility bills, insurance bills, or a signed letter from a healthcare or social service agency. Due to licensing restrictions with electronic resource vendors, we are unable to process registrations from outside Texas. I aim to find a solution for any community member who asks for help, but over the years this has been a challenge for older beginners. Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Collections. Libraries exist to lift barriers, and we know there are many in our community who have difficulty accessing certain services because of difficulty obtaining identification or who would otherwise simply benefit from having another form of ID. HCPL offers five different types of library cards including 1) the full-service Knowledge Card available with application and proof of residency at all HCPL branch locations, 2) the iKnow Digital Access Card (signing up online for Harris County residents) that gives you instant access to all of our online resources like eBooks, and streaming video, 3) the Enhanced+ Library Card that is a full-service library card and verified photo ID in one, 4) Military Library Card for active duty military personnel and 5) Texshare Card. American Librariesspoke with Jennings about his afterlife research, game show hosting duties, and what impact libraries have had on him., A publication of the American Library Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601, Photo: Nancy Hu/Harris County (Tex.) Janemarie Doyle, a tutor, puts on her bike helmet as Kristian Caballero, director of community outreach for Texas Appleseed, speaks about the launch of the Harris County Public Library systems new enhanced library cards during a press conference Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at the Harris County Public Library Fairbanks Branch in Houston. My Shelves and My Lists. The following must be dated within 1 year: Visit our My Account & Library Cards page to find the card that is right for you. HCPL iKnow Digital Access Cards are limited to residents of Harris County Texas. "Some people worry about getting stopped by a cop and not having an ID, and furthermore, they can detain you. Clear all Filters. To boost the power and possibilities of any and all the library cards you use, dont forget to download Library Extension, a browser extension that lets you instantly see book and e-book availability from your local library as you browse titles on websites like Amazon and Abe Books. He also gave an example of people being unable to afford getting identification cards from their consulate. The group raised about $6,000 to pay for ink cartridges, a printer, a dedicated laptop, plastic cards, a cart to house everything in one place, and other materials. . Austin City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes introduced a budget amendment for the current fiscal year dedicating $12,000 for equipment to establish the pilot program. https://cflibguides.lonestar.edu/services, Downloadable eBooks and audiobooks through. Get access to thousands of forms. Federal income tax or refund statement Banned Books Week brings awareness to challenged and banned books, Tags American Library Association banned books Banned Books Week censorship First Amendment freedom of expression Freedom of Speech Harris County Public Library intellectual freedom learning Office for Intellectual Freedom reading schools texas. The APL Enhanced Library Card is a full-access library card for Austin residents 18 or older that includes the holders library card number, photograph, address, date of birth, the expiration date, and a scannable barcode. Hours: We are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. You must be present to verify documents and have your photo taken. Applicants must prove their identity through documentation like a consular ID card, foreign passport, birth certificate, social security card, ITIN, or school documents. For more information about the card or FAQs, the Harris County Public Librarys website. Registering for a Harris County Enhanced+ Library Card requires documentation that proves the applicant is a resident of Harris County, although the list of acceptable documents to qualify has been broadened from those for traditional forms of ID to open eligibility up to anyone regardless of age or immigration and housing status. If you have received this message in error,Please click here to follow the steps regarding your geolocation accessibilty. (For instance, you must possess a Harris County Public Library card for 90 days and remain in good standing to register for TexShare privileges. Library Cards. WebThe APL Enhanced Library Card is a full-access library card for Austin residents 18 or older that includes the holders library card number, photograph, address, date of birth, the expiration date, and a scannable barcode. Over the last two years, he's covered a wide range of topics, from politics and immigration to culture and the arts. WebHarris County Public Library Enhanced+ Card Application DATE: _____ BRANCH: _____ LIBRARY CARD NUMBER: 2 4 0 2 8 ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Please complete the form in So, this card is a huge achievement.. SAPL offers enhanced library cards at four of its locations. Photo identification is an essential part of American life. Language. The card is available from all full-service Harris County Public Library locations except Baldwin Boettcher Branch @ Mercer Park, Texas Medical Center Library, and Harris County Law Library. WebWe would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. In Harris County, Texaswhich includes Houstona county commissioner contacted Harris County Public Library (HCPL) to ask if it could legally issue photo identification cards. In our area so far, they said the Harris County Sheriffs Office and Harris Health are the two agencies that have agreed to accept the cards as valid photo identification. Do not write in shaded area. Greg Abbott signed into law SB4, known as the show me your papers law, which requires local governments and law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration officers. In 2016, The Atlantic posed this question: Is the Library Card Dying? The following must be dated within 60 days: For staff use. It should not take longer than 15 20 minutes to apply for and receive your Enhanced+ Library Card. This is a carousel. Learn more about the new cards here. Heres a step-by-step guide on how you can transcribe audio and video attachments in Gmail messages to text., Megan Bennett writes: As a kid, Jeopardy! Harris County Librarys Enhanced+ Library Card is a free photo ID thats available to all county residents regardless of immigration or housing status. (For instance, you must possess a Harris County Public Library card for 90 days and remain in good standing to register for TexShare privileges. A world of legal databases and ebooks is available to any Texas resident. All Rights Reserved. Bryan Kratish, manager of outreach services, shows Pablo Silva the photo he just took for his new enhanced library card from the Harris County Public Library system Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at the Harris County Public Library Fairbanks Branch in Houston. The enhanced library cards will include a photo, name, date of birth, and address for the recipient, providing Harris County residents who lack access to a form of identification with a basic form of alternative, non-traditional photo ID. Guess the Houston's crystal-clear lagoons: Access, prices and opening dates. Patrons display their new enhanced library cards at an April 6 sign-up event at the Fairbanks branch of Harris County (Tex.) Anyone living in Harris County can get one regardless of age, immigration status, or housing status. Program materialsa digital camera and a backdropcost around $600 at each of them, McNeill says. Over a dozen Harris County residents filled out applications Tuesday morning at the Fairbanks Branch Library, where employees took their photos in front of a blue Houston Public Library is the other public library system in our area, and you can find information about signning up for an HPL MY Link library card on their website. The Enhanced Library Card can be used to check out items from APL's physical collection and/or Virtual Library, depending on your membership type. Hopefully, this will help us live a little bit more peacefully, without fear that we cant show an ID when someone asks for it, said Guillermos older sister, Maria De La Rosa. Click here to view the detailed information concerning the iKnow Digital Library Card policy. Letter or record addressed to the applicant at an address within Harris County from a school, college, or university located in Texas that the applicant or the applicant's child attends. Here is the list of eligible documents: Documents for Proof of Identity and Residency. Borrowing. FIRST NAME* CHECK HERE* MIDDLE NAME* COUNTY OF RESIDENCE* PERSONS ALLOWED TO CHECK OUT YOUR RESERVED All applicants must present ONE of the following documents. He said the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 winter storms, and annual hurricanes highlighted the importance of having a photo ID to access critical assistance such as shelters, funds, and other forms of relief. What do I do? Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Collections. Check it out! The applicants name and Harris County residential address must be on the document. Search. Photocopies are not accepted. The cards offer another form of HCPL offers a variety of library cards- All free and available to Harris County residents! Consult the chart below for document point values. Lastly, if you wish to expand your access to libraries beyond the borders of the Lone Star State, you may, for a fee, register as a non-resident user at any of the libraries on THIS LIST. And many public libraries in Texas are leading the way on getting these cards into peoples hands. To make this process go more smoothly and to create an inclusive library environment, he says staff members were trained on how to provide the service without judgment. City and library officials said the change was made after neighbors in the area complained that the free Wi-Fi was part of what attracted unhoused people to the area and contributed to crime., KQED-TV (San Francisco), June 5; Mission Local (San Francisco), May 29, Lynne Weintraub writes: Its never too late to learn new skills. We are grateful to our colleagues in other city departments and our partners in other organizations who have worked with us in order to help lift that barrier with the Enhanced Library Card. To find your local branch, click here. Advocates said it's a way to help protect and break down barriers for those in vulnerable situations. But it was also important that book selections modeled positive behaviors that align with our school values and fostered conversations around social-emotional learning and equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice. Digital Media. Students, please visit LSC Student ID/Library Cardfor IDs or online library card numbers. Filters. Verification of Release Form (Issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement). Having spent some 15 years in open access (OA) book publishing we think that the challenge is probably not the lack of well-functioning infrastructures. Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library, (Map) Harris County Courts & Local Services. Your registration is being submitted from a disallowed location. HCPL offers a variety of library cards- All free and available to Harris County residents! Foreign National ID Card Step 2: The content of this Website is for informational purposes only. For more information about the card or FAQs, the Harris County Public Library's website. With your Knowledge Card, you have total access to the library's ever-growing collections of books and DVDs, streaming video and music, eBooks and eAudiobooks, and our second-to-none selection of online research and learning tools. TOP and allies held a press conference Tuesday, April 5, 2022 celebrating the launch of this new enhanced library card program. For stories on Houston's diverse communities, follow Rosie Nguyen on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A full list of documents that can be used to get the enhanced card can be found on the county library's website.