Athens Regional Library System, Athens-Clarke County Library partner with Clarke County School District

ATHENS, Ga. — The Athens Regional Library System and Athens-Clarke County Library have partnered with Clarke County School District to offer the PINES Library Access for Youth (PLAY) card – a fine free student library card -- to all pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students in the Clarke County School District starting Monday, May 9.

PLAY Card holders can check out up to five items at once with no overdue fines using their student identification number and a password. Fines only accrue for lost or damaged items. PLAY Card accounts also provide free access to many resources at the library system’s website, athenslibrary.org.

Library card holders can choose from thousands of titles of e-books, e-audiobooks and digital magazines, available through Georgia Download Destination via the Libby app or ERead Kids. Card holders can also access live, online tutors for homework help and academic tutoring via tutor.com as well as language learning software Mango Languages, among other online resources, at athenslibrary.org.

“Your library card is one of the most important school supplies there is. The library provides free access to educational and enrichment resources for students of all ages, both in our physical buildings and online. These resources can greatly enhance a student’s academic career,” Athens Regional Library System Executive Director Valerie Bell said. “We are proud to work with Clarke County Schools to offer the PLAY Card to students, just in time for Summer Reading!”

"We are grateful to the Athens Regional Library System and Athens-Clarke County Library for partnering with us to be able to provide our students with resources that will help them succeed academically and support a lifelong love of reading and learning,” said Clarke County School District Superintendent Dr. Xernona Thomas.
“It is very gratifying to all who recognize the value of all facets of education to see ACCL and the CCSD sharing in this cooperative, important venture for our children,” added Jane Russell, Athens-Clarke County Library Board of Trustees chair.

Clarke County School District students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade are automatically enrolled in the PLAY Card program. Families can opt out of the program by contacting their school. Visit the school district’s website, https://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/playcard, for details about the PLAY Card.

The Athens-Clarke County Library includes five locations in Athens, all part of the Athens Regional Library System: Aaron Heard Resource Center, 400 McKinley Drive, Athens; the headquarters Athens-Clarke County Library, 2025 Baxter Street, Athens; Lay Park Resource Center, 297 Hoy Street, Athens; Pinewoods Library, 1465 Hwy 29N Lot F-12, Athens; and Winterville Library, 115 Marigold Lane, Winterville. Visit athenslibrary.org for more information.