Beginning this school year, 7th-12th grade students enrolled at Des Moines Public Schools may use their student ID as a library card within the Des Moines Public Library system.
Take advantage of your library! Here's what you can do with your card:
- Borrow books, movies, and board games from the library!—up to 5 at a time
- Log into a library computer
- Download Libby on your phone or tablet to borrow eBooks and audiobooks
- Use Comics Plus to access a large library of comic books and graphic novels
- Learn a new language on Mango
- Check our online events calendar and take part in fun, interactive programs
Student IDs as Library Cards FAQ
- Accounts are created automatically using the student’s school ID number.
- PINs are set to a student’s two-digit month and two-digit day, so someone born September 17th would have a PIN of 0917
- All student cards have their home library set to Central
- To change your PIN and/or home library (where holds will be sent), log into the My Account Page and click on your name in the top right corner.
- You can change your PIN by clicking on "Reset PIN/Password."
- You can change your home library by clicking on "Your Preferences."
Students may borrow from the library’s full catalog of books, DVDs, CDs, and digital materials. Items in the Library of Things, hotspots, and laptops are not available for checkout with a student ID.
Students using their student ID may check out up to five physical items at one time.
All materials are checked out for three weeks. Items will automatically renew if there are no holds, up to two times (a maximum borrowing period of nine weeks). After that time, materials must be returned so other library patrons may have access.
Yes. Students may use their account to access the library’s digital catalog through Libby. They may check out up to ten items and place up to ten holds at one time.
Students who already have a library card may continue to use it and may also use their student ID. Regular library cards are not subject to the five-item checkout limit.
If a student’s existing library card is blocked due to unpaid fees (for example, from a lost item), they may still use their student ID as a library card.
The library does not charge daily late fines. However:
- Items more than 14 days overdue are considered lost, and the replacement cost is billed to the account.
- If a lost item is returned within six months, the charge will be removed.
- Students may be responsible for charges on damaged items.
- Borrowing privileges are suspended when fees exceed $25. Parents or guardians are responsible for materials checked out on their child’s account if the student is under the age of 18.
Notices are sent by email, with the student’s school email address set as the default. Notifications include checkout receipts, due dates, and reminders for upcoming returns. Students may also print a receipt at checkout or update their account to add additional notification preferences. Digital items are returned automatically at the end of the checkout period.