CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A new Corpus Christi public library card is under consideration that would give parents an additional opportunity reviewing which books their child checks out.
The new card would require updating the library's system, which could cost thousands of dollars.
If it is approved, parents or legal guardians will be required to be present whenever their child checks out books.
However, the director of public libraries, Laura Garcia, said parents won't be able to register for this new card until funding is secured for the new system.
"For us it's very essential that the parent, the guardian make the decision and monitor what the child checks out, it's not up to us" Garcia said. "So this is just making sure that the parent is the one taking the lead."
Besides being present at checkout, parents or guardians must present a photo ID and be the person that fills out the card application.
Garcia said if the guardian that filled out the application for the card is not present then the child will not be allowed to check out any books.
If approved, the libraries will be required to make an improvement to their checkout systems to process the new card.
Garcia said the upgrades will include a new alert system and will block kids from using the self-checkout.
"So we would be using the same integrated library system that we use, this would just be an enhancement to the system we currently have in place," she said.
Garcia said this new system would cost an estimated $5,000 to $10,000 and there is a possibility this project will be added to the 2026 Fiscal Year budget.
After funding is secured, Garcia said it could take an estimated six months or more for the new card to be active at all libraries in Corpus Christi.