Borrowing books from the Hillsborough County public library just got easier for thousands of public school students as they will no longer require a library card.

  • New Hillsborough library system called 'HAAL Pass'
  • Allows students to use student ID number, PIN
  • Administrators expect library usage to triple

Public school students in Hillsborough can now check out library books, DVDs and online resources by using their school student ID number and a PIN.

It's part of a new initiative called "HAAL Pass," or "Hillsborough All Access Libraries."

"About six years ago, the White House issued a challenge to all public libraries and schools in America to find a way to make it easier to get students access to public library resources," Hillsborough Public Library Director Andrew Breidenbaugh said.

School leaders hope the facilitated access to books and resources will translate into a successful school year for students.

"One of the most important things we can do (is) we want to improve our reading and writing across this district," Hillsborough Public Schools Administrator Van Ayres said. "In order to do that you have to practice it — it's about repetition. The more you read, the better you get at it."

Currently, 50,000 Hillsborough Public Schools students have library cards. There are about 207,000 students currently enrolled in the district.

Library administrators said they expect usage to triple among students because of the new initiative.