Tomball ISD, Harris County Public Library, Lone Star College-Tomball announce partnership to support literacy, library accessibility

Tomball ISD announced a new partnership with Lone Star College-Tomball and the Harris County Public Library, which includes the LSC-Tomball Community Library, that supports educational and literacy goals through sharing resources and improving accessibility to library cards, the district announced in a Aug. 2 news release.

The partnership, called SPARK—Sharing, Partnering and Reaching for Knowledge—will help provide library cards to students and teachers in TISD; expand the accessibility of HCPL resources available to TISD; establish Library Learning Corners in TISD libraries; and promote collaboration on new activities, programs and events, according to the release.

“We continue to seek out creative ways to elevate our passion for education all while providing endless opportunities for our community. SPARK will enable us to reach our families in ways in which we never imagined before through a love for literacy and we are excited to see this new idea grow into fruition," TISD Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora said in the release.

As part of the developing partnership, students and teachers in TISD will not have to visit a library location to register for a library card. Additionally, expanded electronic resources and a newly established material delivery service from HCPL for TISD students, faculty and librarians will debut.

Library Learning Corners will also be added in TISD libraries, including a curated, rotating selection of materials from HCPL resources, according to the release.

“We are so excited about the SPARK partnership as this opportunity will promote literacy and extend classroom learning by expanding the variety of books, resources, and materials available to all students and staff,” said Dianne Tidwell, TISD director of digital learning, in the release. “Through this unique partnership, our students and staff will be offered a pathway to achieving extraordinary learning experiences.”

Information regarding library cards and resource sharing will be communicated to TISD families and staff as the upcoming 2021-22 school year approaches, according to the release.

"This partnership will not only support the TISD students and teachers in their current studies, but will also help in college preparation," Tomball Community Library Director Janna Hoglund said in the release.