Using only their school ID, students, faculty and staff at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and South Louisiana Community College soon will have access to all materials and programs of the Lafayette Public Library system, including free 24/7 online tutoring and resume and job search assistance.
"At SoLAcc, we know student success doesn’t start and stop at our campus threshold," spokesperson Anne Falgout said. "While our students already benefit from the college library, connecting them to the Lafayette Public Library gives them a powerful advantage: Extended hours, career-focused programming and Makerspaces — combined with personal enrichment opportunities like museum access, book clubs and genealogy resources — create countless ways for students to grow both in and out of the classroom."
The program, which is expected to kick off in September, will allow about 17,000 people at UL and 5,000 at SoLAcc to use parish public libraries without obtaining a library card, Library Director Danny Gillane said.
"That's 22,000 more people we can automatically provide access to these materials," he said.
Students studying medical technology at SoLAcc, for instance, can access free study guides and practice tests. Students may use study rooms, public computers and check out reading materials, including downloading books for leisure reading, he said.
"No one has done this before," Gillane said. "We're the first university or college to do this."
Lafayette Parish public school students, Gillane said, have been able to use the public libraries' resources using their school IDs since 2018.
Shreve Memorial Library, which serves Caddo Parish, was the first to allow the use of public school IDs at the library. Lafayette Parish, he said, was the second.
Lafayette Parish public elementary and high schools kick off the 2025-26 school term next week. SoLAcc classes start Aug. 18.
The state and Lafayette Public Library system, Gillane said, subscribe to a 24/7 tutoring service that's free to students with a school ID card. It can be accessed through HomeworkLa.org/Lafayette, accessible from homes or public libraries on computers, tablets and cell phones.
"They help if you're looking for a job, if kids need math help," he said.
Check out other library resources at https://www.lafayettepubliclibrary.org/home and click on "Your Resources."
Library cards are free to residents of Lafayette Parish, to people who attend school or work in Lafayette Parish and to people who own property in Lafayette Parish.
Those who don't fall into one of the above categories pay $20 per year for a Lafayette Public Library card.