Empowering Students: Library Homework Help Program

1. Group 5: Homework Help & Tutoring By: Jenny Pepiton, Lexie Cowgill, Seth Perkins, Kirstin Mandalay, Steven Baglin

2. Homework Help & Tutoring • Programs throughout the country • Helping “At Risk” kids • After School Program • Familiarizes them with the tools the library has to offer • "Many of our regulars were failing orclose to failing their classes. Nowthey have improved grades and selfesteem and are beginning collegesearch process. At the start, they saythey would not have even consideredcollege as an option."— Bethel Park Public Library

3. Types of Programs • In person • Online • Mobile • “Explorer Bookmobile”

4. Role of staff/ volunteers • “Tutoring” vs. homework help • Qualifications of volunteers/ staff • Community partners

5. Recruiting Volunteers • Level of commitment • Matching skills • Screening

6. Management • Supervisor role • Promotion/ Marketing/ Outreach • Evaluation • Funding

7. Virtual vs. Onsite • Pros/ Cons • Outsourcing (Brainfuse) • Chat/ SMS (Mosio)

8. Physical Space/ Supplies • Working with your space • Set-up • Numbers • Using library materials • Crayons, pencils, erasers, oh my!

9. Hardware: Simple Necessities •Pencils/Pens •Paper •Rulers, protractors, etc…

10. Hardware: Technology • Computers • Desktop and/or Laptop • Photocopier • Printer • Scientific Calculators • Internet capabilities

11. Software: Applications • Microsoft suite or Macintosh OSX software • Word processing capabilities • PowerPoint/Keynote • Excel/Numbers • Photo editing • Google Earth • Educational activities/resources    -Discovery Education Homework Help Online

12. Collection Needs: Reference Materials Printed and Digital Sources • Thesaurus • Dictionary • Encyclopedia • Topic specific resources • Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Science, etc...

13. Collection Needs: Research Resources • Online Public Catalog or Card Catalog • Online Search Engines • Online databases • EbscoHost, Gale, etc… • E-books • Compact Discs • DVD’s

14. Funding and Budgeting •Federal Grants •Library Services and Technology Act •U.S. Department of Education “Promise Neighborhood” •State Grants •State (e.g. Maryland) Library Partnership and State Department of Education-Local Community Help/Donations: Willmar, MN.    -Money    -Materials-Budgeting: Carson City, NV     -Allocation of monetary assistance from other and often related budgets

15. Hayward Public Library Homework Help Program A Successful Case Study by Kirstin Mandalay

16. Hayward, California Median household income: $61,268 12.5% of the population live below poverty line.

17. Promise Neighborhoods Grant Given to communities who have distressed urban or rural neighborhoods to provide “cradle to college to career” support.

18. Hayward Public Library Homework Help Program • Begun in 2009 • Lindsey Vien, MLIS, director of the program (L. Vien, personal interview, October 19, 2012). • Designed to meet the needs of students, K-12 • How to do homework assignments • And more: research, reference help, developing communication skills needed for success.

19. Homework Help Program at the Hayward Public Library At the Main branch and Weekes Branch: Monday-Wednesday 3:30-5:30pm Thursday 3-5pm

20. Students: • Free program, drop in anytime • Fill out form: age, school, grade level, subject for tutoring • Assigned a tutor by site supervisor • Testing to track progress: 3rd and 10th visits

21. Tutors: Recruiting Tutors: Application Process: Applicants fill out an application In-person interview with director Fingerprint and background check with Hayward Police Department • Extensive Advertising: • In library and on library website • Volunteer match website • Local colleges: education or service programs • Chiefly adult volunteers

22. Tutors: * Observe current tutors in action for training. * Goal: help students learn how to find the answers. * Consider the whole student’s needs: supplies, organization skills, actual level of learning (above or below assignment), etc.

23. Homework Help Supplies Laptop computer Lab Essential Supplies: Paper, Pens, Pencils, Binders, Folders. Scientific and regular calculators. Class calendar to keep track of assignments. Reference Books.

24. Progress Report: Number of non-duplicated students each year at Central and Weekes Branch Library Homework Help Centers:

25. Expansion Project: in school Homework Help Center in 2011 Longwood Elementary School

26. Future Plans Chromebooks! Expansion: Partnering with School Board to provide Homework Help Centers in the lowest performing schools.

27. Secrets to Success: • Funding through grants. • Tracking student attendance, progress, and improvement to demonstrate the program’s effectiveness. • Partnering with the city for funding and reporting progress and data. • Partnering with the school district and reporting progress and data. Formulating expansion programs with the schools. • Librarian director with a passion for education and an understanding of what is needed to run a successful homework help program.

28. Case Study: Carson City Public Library Online Tutoring Program through Brainfuse

29. Program Background • Current BrainFuse Program Started in 2010 by Youth Services Librarian Amber Sady- Side-by-Side Comparison: BrainFuse vs. Tutor.com- Comparison Funded by Technology Grant • Survey of Users Preferred BrainFuse 55% to 45%

30. What is Brainfuse? • Live Tutoring Available: 1-10pm Daily–Via Internet from Anywhere using Library Card -Physical Space at Library: 2 Dedicated Homework Computers • Services Offered–Live Tutoring in Math, Science, Reading/Writing, Social Studies, PSAT/SAT, ACT, and AP –24 Hour Writing Lab –24/7 Homework Question Center –Skills Building

31. Tutors and Staffing • Tutors and Staffing • Trained and Certified by BrainFuse • Background and Reference-Checked • Must Possess 4-year Degree • Must have Prior Teaching/Tutoring Experience • All Tutors US-Based • Onsite Library Staffing Need–Outreach –Marketing –Evaluation

32. Outreach and Marketing • Presentation Visits to Area Schools: KEY TO SUCCESS! • Press Releases • Marketing on Youth and Teen Websites

33. Program Ongoing Evaluation • Monthly Statistics Reports from BrainFuse–Number of Users –Subjects Requested –Post-session Survey Results Including Patron Comments if Given

34. Funding Source • Program Funded through Book Budget • Grants Supplement Book Budget    -Audio-Video Materials    -Playaways • Allows Portion of Book Budget to Support Program

35. Keys to Successful Homework/Tutoring Programs • Continuous Outreach and Partnering with Area Schools • Adequate Funding through Grants and/or Donations • Continuous Evaluation of Effectiveness • Passionate Staff and Volunteer Support

36. References • A closer look at homework help at public libraries reveals success and great potential. (2007). Pennsylvania Library Association Bulletin, 62(7), 18-19. • Cofer, S., Dwyer, J., Harold, S., Pechacek, A., Peterson, K., & Ryan, S. (2007). Homework Help Is a Click Away. Young Adult Library Services, 5(2), 17-20. • Johnson County Library Offers Homework Assistance. (2006). Public Libraries, 45(2), 17. • Vanderwerf, L. (2011, Feb 18). Library program offers students homework assistance. McClatchy - Tribune Business News. • Wagoner, M. T. (2005). Help Online. Texas Library Journal, 81(4), 136-139. • Rogers, M. (2002). Md pl's live homework help. Library Journal,127(16), 30. • Staff. (2005). Part of the solution. Library Journal, 13029.