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Seguin Ready to Read issues 444 library cards to kindergarteners in partnership with Seguin Public Library
Summary
As part of a new Seguin ISD–Seguin Public Library partnership, the district scheduled field trips that resulted in 444 kindergarten library cards created, more than 600 total participants on trips, and an initial 11% of cards returned to check out books; staff said no fines were charged for those field‑trip checkouts.
Seguin ISD and the Seguin Public Library described a new early‑literacy collaboration that gave public library cards to kindergarten students and introduced families to library services.
Hannah Farmer, assistant director at the Seguin Public Library, said the Seguin Ready to Read project provides public library cards to all kindergarten students during a scheduled field trip. The library used grants (Texas Book Festival, Texas State Library and Archives Commission) to expand easy‑reader collections in both English and Spanish and to avoid charging fines for books checked out during the field trips.
Program data shared at the board meeting: the first round of field trips hosted more than 600 participants including students, parents and chaperones; 444 library cards were issued to kindergarten students; over 40 free books were provided to students who could not receive cards; and early follow‑up shows an 11% return rate of those kindergarteners to check out additional books. Librarians said they built parent outreach into the program (opt-out choices were offered during registration) and will continue to track this inaugural cohort’s engagement over the summer.
School staff and trustees praised the cross‑agency work: the district provided student data (with privacy safeguards) so the library could create accounts, and the library scheduled buses and classroom visits to make the experience accessible. Officials said the program supports district strategic priorities around early literacy and family engagement and that more outreach will be done to increase return visits this summer.
Board members asked about volunteer needs and the library staff said volunteers are welcome and the library’s intake processes will be posted for community members interested in helping.
