Homework help at library

Thu., Jan. 25, 2007

By Tom Lutey toml@spokesman.com (509) 927-2179

Just in time for the WASL, a live homework help service is being rolled out by Liberty Lake Municipal Library.

In March, students with Liberty Lake Library cards will be able to log on to tutor.com, a national service that uses instant messaging to connect students who are fourth-grade through college freshman with tutors for live, one-on-one homework help. The service is free to students because the library is picking up the $4,500-a-year tab.

“I think we needed to look at something to attract teens,” said Pamela Moogen, Liberty Lake Municipal Library director. “That couldn’t be something that involved room because we are out of room.”

Teens have been a tough group to reach for Liberty Lake’s library and others. Younger children tend to show up in droves for story hours and child-related library events, but after kindergarten there’s a steady drop off in library use, Moogen said.

Despite the lull in interest, libraries are generously stocked with youth-related material, including expensive, subscription-only research material geared toward school studies. Much of that material is available to library patrons online and from a home computer.

A $10,000 grant from the Washington State Library will cover the tutor.com costs. Moogen received notice this week that Liberty Lake had been awarded the grant, which is intended to promote use of the library. The rest of the grant money will be spent on promoting library learning-related services through a campaign called “Got homework? We can help.”

There are computers available at the library, 1421 N. Meadowwood Lane, but students with a library card will also be able to log on from home for tutor services by entering their library card number. Library cards are free to the public and available at the library to city and noncity residents.

Liberty Lake’s library wasn’t the only one to receive a $10,000 grant. Five others, including Spokane Public Library, were issued grants to promote library use. The library in Spokane is giving its Web site a makeover with the grant dollars. The makeover, combined with a branding campaign and a new online newsletter, should roll out in late spring, said Eva Silverstone, library spokeswoman.

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