Students, teachers, and staff in the CHCCS district can use their school ID number to access all library resources. The IDEA project lets users do everything they can do with a regular library card - log in to research databases, check out print and audio books, and download digital materials - using a familiar number.
Common questions
No. We create the account for you. Just use your school ID number to access materials. If you didn't already have a password, we create one. For students, it's their birthday in the format MMxDD. For teachers and staff, it's the last four digits of their ID, with an x in the middle (like 01x25). Passwords can be changed in the catalog.
The only difference is that students and district staff can use their student ID number instead of a barcode. Same access to collections. Same loan periods.
Not a problem. We merge your school ID number and email address with your existing account data. You can still use your old barcode if you want to.
Yes. Anyone who does not want to have an account should contact a CHCCS district media specialist.
We do not charge overdue fines. IDEA Project users are subject to the same borrowing rules as all other library users. Learn more here.
No. CHCCS libraries, CHPL, and Orange County Public Library are separate organizations. Learn about OCPL’s Student Easy Access (SEA) program here.
Called the IDEA Project because a school ID number gives Easy Access to library resources, the project is part of a national movement to connect K-12 students with public library resources in order to better support school success. In 2016, the Mayor of Chapel Hill and CHCCS School Superintendent signed on to a national challenge to implement programs like these in communities across the country.