AACo Library Goes Virtual

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- There was a time when at some point a student had to go to a library to finish a class assignment. Now with the Internet, the library comes to us.

The library in Anne Arundel County is making it easier for students to find what they need, WJZ's Mike Schuh reports.

Third graders in Anne Arundel have already been taught the importance of setting life goals. To encourage reading, the Anne Arundel County Public Library and schools have a plan called S.A.I.L., Student Access to Improved Learning.

The S.A.I.L. account is a new kind of library card. Instead of the children seeking out the library and getting access, now the library is automatically part of their lives.

As of Friday, every single student has a S.A.I.L. account. It gives them all special access to online homework and foreign language help, research data and they can check out three books at a time in person with no late fees or fines.

Jackson Collins seemed like a keen observer, so we asked him why the adults want kids to have this new access to the library.

"And sometimes what you read is cool and sometimes fun," said Collins.

Virtual library cards are updating a resource for the future.

"As you can tell, we are really really excited. This is a landmark day for our county," said Skip Auld, Anne Arundel County Public Library CEO.

Special access for all 81,000 Anne Arundel County students is now up and running.