homework assistance library

• Browse all FAQs
• Log In / Register
• My Library Dashboard
• My Borrowing
• Checked Out
• Borrowing History
• ILL Requests
• My Collections
• For Later Shelf
• Completed Shelf
• In Progress Shelf
• My Settings

Homework Assistance Program

The Homework Assistance Program (HAP) is a free after-school service led by Harvard University trained teen mentors that offers homework help, mentorship, and activities for students in grades K–8.

Details about the program will be updated, please check back for more information.

Other Homework Help Resources

Boston teachers union tutors.

The Boston Teachers Union (BTU) program will be available at BPL branches beginning on September, 25, 2023. See the 2023 BTU tutor flyer including libraries, addresses, and night(s) open.

Online help courtesy of the BPL

• LearningExpress Library  can help students from grade school through college improve their skills by taking practice tests, completing exercises, and reading eBooks. What's more, LearningExpress can help college-bound students prepare for the ACT, SAT, and other standardized tests.
• Look for books, CDs, movies, and more in the  BPL catalog .
• Search for articles and use books online with our  student electronic resources .

Other online help

• Check out the  MCAS help , opens a new window  available from the MA Department of Education.
• Prepare for the SAT or ACT for free at  Number2.com , opens a new window  or  The College Board , opens a new window .

Homework Help Mentors

Powered by BiblioCommons.

BiblioWeb: webapp02 Version 4.18.0 Last updated 2024/03/26 09:51

City of San Diego Official Website

San Diego Weather

With its great weather, miles of sandy beaches, and major attractions, San Diego is known worldwide as one of the best tourist destinations and a great place for residents to relax year round.

• Regional Parks
• Community Parks
• Recreation Centers
• Book an Event
• Beaches & Bays
• More Leisure

Resident Resources

From neighborhoods and parks to streets and parking, find what you need in your community and report your concerns.

Neighborhoods

• Community Plans

Recreational Activities

Street maintenance.

• Street Sweeping
• Streetlights
• More Resident Resources

Doing Business

Incentives and programs are available to help launch, grow and expand your business, and provide support for homeowners and contractors to get work done.

• Bid on a Contract
• Explore Incentives
• Development Codes & Regulations
• Set Up Utilities
• Renovations & Remodels
• Get Permits
• Track Your Project
• Learn about Zoning

The San Diego Public Library is a popular destination that connects our diverse community to free educational and cultural resources that will enrich their lives.

• Programs & Events
• One Book, One San Diego
• Event Calendar
• More Programs & Events
• Fines & Fees
• Renewals & Holds
• More Services

Kids & Teens

• Homework Help Center
• Parents & Teachers
• More Kids & Teens

eCollection

• Digital Magazines
• Library Website

Public Safety

The Police and Fire-Rescue departments work together within our communities to provide the highest level of quality service and protection. From neighborhood watch to 9-1-1 services, our team is here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• File a Police Report
• Police Services
• Police Website

Fire-Rescue

• Fire Services & Programs
• Community Risk Reduction
• Join Fire-Rescue
• Fire-Rescue Website
• Beach Safety
• Junior Lifeguards
• Lifeguards Website
• More Public Safety

Learn more about City government

City Officials

• Mayor Todd Gloria
• Councilmembers
• City Attorney
• City Auditor
• Independent Budget Analyst

City Government

• Departments
• Programs & Initiatives
• Boards & Commissions
• City Organization Chart
• More City Hall

Accessibility Tools

Audio/Vision Assist:

Turn On/Off

High Contrast:

More Info on accessibility

Public Library

• Public Library Home
• About the Library
• Central Library
• Library Locations

Do Your Homework @ the Library

Got Homework? We've got help!

The program includes:.

• Free access to paid Coaches who are available to provide assistance and guide students K-8 as they learn.
• Free  access to learning materials, computers, online research tools, and other digital resources available at the library.

Homework Help available at these locations:

English | Somali | Spanish | Tagalog   | Vietnamese

1 st - 3 rd Grade

4 th - 6 th grade, 7 th - 8 th grade, pre-k - kindergartners.

Summer Virtual Homework Help

• Virtual Homework Help
• Summer Camps

Spring Camps

Homework Resources

Volunteering

• The Do Your Homework @ the Library program is available to students and their families for free.
• Math, English, and science help will be available every day.
• Email registration is required to connect with the DYH@L Virtual Homework Help program.
• Email [email protected] with your student’s name, grade, school, birth month and year, and their local library.

If you have questions, email  [email protected] .

Program Flyers: English | Spanish

Art of Colors Camp  - Grades: K-2 April 2 - 5, 2024 | 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | North University Community Library Register here

Explore the colors of the rainbow with us this spring. Through hands-on experiments and activities, campers in grades K-2 nd will learn the fundamentals of colors. Learn about the colors in light, the color wheel, primary and secondary colors, and more!

Parent/Guardian must accompany campers under 8 years old.

Bee Smart-Spring into Gardening  - Grades: K-2 April 2 - 5, 2024 | 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | North Clairemont Library Register here

Spring into gardening during our 4-day camp. A green thumb is not necessary to learn about pollinators, plants, soil, and composting.   Get your hands dirty with interactive activities!

Exploring Magical Creatures Camp - Grades: 3-6 April 2 - 5, 2024 | 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Logan Heights Library Register here

At the Exploring Magical Creature Camp, participants embark on a journey of mystery and enchantment. This camp is designed to engage the imagination and foster a deep appreciation for the world of mythology and legendary beings. It's a place where fantasy comes to life, and campers are transported to a world of wonder and adventure.

Bee Smart-Spring into Gardening  - Grades: 3-6 March 25 - 28, 2024 | 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | San Ysidro Register here

Chem Squad-Chemistry Camp  - Grades: 2-5 March 25 - 28, 2024 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Virtual Register here

Fleet Science Center presents Chem Squad!  Through hands-on experiments and activities explore how chemistry works. This spring campers in grades 2 nd -5 th will have a fun introduction to chemistry.

Learn more about volunteer opportunities at the library here .

If you have questions or are interested in volunteering as a homework coach, contact the Do Your Homework @ the Library program at [email protected] .

Union Bank Homework Center Central Library, Second Floor

Regular Hours

Branch Homework Centers Hours

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

• Support your library
• Books, movies, music
• Magazine and newspaper articles

Homework help

Find homework resources for K-12 students online and at all our libraries: history, language arts, math, science and more.

Tutors online

• Free online tutoring and writing help for K-12 students and adult learners.
• Available on computers in the library or at home with your Hennepin County Library card .
• Tutors are available online every day from 1 to 11 p.m.
• Get help from a tutor in English or Spanish.

Homework Help Tutors at the library

Free in-person tutoring for K-12 students. No advance sign-up needed.

2023-24 school year

Tutors are available September 11, 2023 to June 1, 2024.

No tutoring during MEA break (October 16 - 21), Thanksgiving break (November 22 -25), and winter break (December 16 – January 1). Additional scheduled breaks follow school district calendars.

See the schedule of closed dates for each location .

Weekly schedule

Homework Help tutoring is made possible by the Friends of the Hennepin County Library.

Let's Read Tutors at the library

Free in-person reading support for K-5 students. Students and trained volunteer tutors meet weekly one-on-one to work on grade level reading skills. Sessions are scheduled in advance by appointment only.

Learn more about Let's Read Tutors

Online resources

Video storybooks and online nonfiction books for young readers. Includes streaming video, games and educator resources.

Explora Kids

Full-text articles from magazines, newspapers, and reference books about current events, people, places, animals, history and more. Includes primary sources, images and maps. Full-text articles are assigned a reading level indicator (Lexiles). Elementary/middle school level.

Explora Teen

Full-text articles from reference books and academic and popular periodicals about health, arts and literature, biography, current issues, geography, history and more. Includes primary sources, images and maps. Full-text articles are assigned a reading level indicator (Lexiles). High school level.

Gale In Context: High School

Biography, literature, history, science, current events, multiculturalism, and more. Includes full-text articles, primary sources, essays, critical analyses, timelines, images, and maps.

Gale In Context: Middle School

Covers cultures, government, people, U.S. and world history, geography, literature, science, and social issues. Includes books, images, biographies, audio, video, magazines, newspapers, creative works, primary sources, and more.

Scholastic True Books on nonfiction topics. Projects, lessons, and activities help build knowledge on people, places, history, science, and nature.

Encyclopedias

Britannica library.

Full-text articles, plus primary sources, news, websites, videos, images, magazine articles, online books, and an interactive atlas. Resources categorized for children, teens, and general reference.

Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos (World Book)

Información sobre gente, lugares, objetos, acontecimientos e ideas para los estudiantes de primaria a secundaria. Incluye enlaces a periódicos en español de todo el mundo. Aprovecha esta enciclopedia para investigar y divertirte.

Gale eBooks

Full-text articles on literature, art, biography, business, religion, science, education, history, law, social science, medicine, multicultural studies, and general reference.

Scholastic GO!

Full-text articles from encyclopedias. Includes animals, biographies, countries, science and more.

World Book Kids

Full-text articles on people, places, science, animals, history, and more. Includes videos, images, audio files, science projects, maps, and games. Elementary school level.

World Book Online (Student)

Full-text articles on geography, history, science, and current events. Includes biographies, videos, and quizzes. Middle/high school level.

History and biography

American indian experience.

Articles on the Native tribes of North America as well as primary sources, including treaties, speeches, traditional tales, maps, and images.

Gale In Context: Biography

People from throughout history, around the world, and across all disciplines and subject areas. Includes images, audio files, and articles from magazines and reference books.

Gale In Context: U.S. History

Primary sources, secondary sources, and full-text journal articles covering all areas of U.S. History. Middle/high school level.

Gale In Context: World History

Primary sources, secondary sources, and full-text journal articles covering world history from antiquity to the present. Middle/high school level.

PebbleGo: Animals and Biographies

Articles about animals and famous people with read-aloud audio and interactive activities. Designed for grades K-3. Recommended browsers are Google Chrome and Safari.

PebbleGo Next: States and American Indian Studies

Articles about states and Native American history and studies, with read-aloud audio and questions to inspire critical thinking. Designed for grades 3-5.

Countries and states

Culturegrams.

Country histories, cultures, statistical data, embassy contacts, images, maps, audio files, and recipes. Includes U.S. states.

ScienceFlix

Resources for science exploration and student research support. Includes nonfiction articles with read aloud option, videos, current events, career information, and experiments.

Gale In Context: Science

Overviews, full-text articles, images, websites, and videos covering earth and life science, space, technology, mathematics, and science history and biography. Includes science experiments.

CQ Researcher

Current and controversial issues with detailed discussions of pros and cons, summaries, bibliographies, and links to related stories. Goes back to 1923.

Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints

Social issues covered by pro/con viewpoint essays, topic overviews, primary sources, biographies, court-cases, articles, statistics, charts and graphs, images, and podcasts.

Points of View Reference Source

Essays on controversial topics that examine multiple sides of current issues. Includes charts, graphs, and research guides. Middle/high school level.

Books and authors

Gale literature resource center.

Biographies, bibliographies and critical analysis of authors from every age and literary discipline. Includes criticism, plot summaries, and dictionary of literary terms. Goes back to 1400.

NoveList K-8 Plus

Resources for finding fiction and nonfiction titles for children and teens by topic, genre, grade level, and Lexile score. Includes read-alikes, discussion guides, reviews and articles. 

Video guides to library resources

Instructional videos in the Databasics playlist on Hennepin County Library’s YouTube channel .

Online Catalog 101

Learn how to search the library catalog to get the best results.

HelpNow Online Tutoring

Learn how to get free online tutoring with your library card.

Databases vs. Websites

Learn the difference and when to use one or the other.

Finding Databases

Two ways to find databases on the library website.

Navigating a Database for Elementary Schoolers

Learn how to use a database on the library website.

Navigating a Database for High Schoolers 

More video guides.

• Niche Academy
• Getting an eCard from Hennepin County Library (video created by Minneapolis Public Schools)

K-12 Education Newsletter

An email newsletter with resources and services from Hennepin County Library to use with your students in kindergarten through grade 12.

• February 2024 - Books library staff loved, Black History Month, and book awards
• September 2023 - Back-to-school resources
• May 2023 - Discover Summer. Here.

Account Login | Catalog Make a Gift

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Bucks County Free Library

Established 1956

Online Tools for Homework and Job Assistance

March 1, 2024

Need homework or job assistance, but you don’t know where to turn? Look no further than Bucks County Free Library! When you hover over the e-Library tab and select Research and Online Learning , you’ll see Brainfuse HelpNow and Brainfuse JobNow . Both of these services are free to library card holders, with live, online assistance daily, 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm EST.

Homework help is available in a variety of subjects, ranging from elementary through college levels. These are some of the services provided:

• Writing assistance – from brainstorming to revisions. Students can submit a paper and receive analysis within 24 hours.
• Skills building with Skill Surfer, which provides videos and practice tests on many topics, and Flashbulb, which uses premade flash cards or allows the student to create their own.
• Foreign language lab (currently only Spanish).
• Test preparation for such exams as SAT, ACT, GED, ASVAB and more.
• eParachute – match your skills and interest with college majors and/or careers.
• Assistance with completing an FAFSA application.
• Adult learning center includes resume and cover letter writing assistance, preparation for US Citizenship Test, and MS Office Essential Skills series.

JobNow has some of the features you’ll find with HelpNow, but includes more online career tools, such as:

• Resume experts, templates, and also a resume lab in which you can submit your resume and receive feedback.
• A coach who can help with searching and applying for jobs, as well as providing interview tips and interview preparation.
• Assistance with completing unemployment benefits forms.
• Career assessment and job search resources.
• Our Mission
• Library Jobs
• Suggest a Purchase
• U.S. Passport Service

• Our Mission

Library Homework-Help Resources Are Available Nationwide

Statewide and cross-country services link students and their questions about school assignments with educators who can guide them.

This resource article accompanies the article " The New Homework Helper ."

While New York City's Dial-A-Teacher Whiteboard is ahead of the curve, there are other useful services for homework help throughout the country. Here's a sample:

Tutor.com has a deal with more than 1,000 libraries nationwide in which library members can get free online homework help. Using a valid library-card number, students log in from their home computer or one at the library. They are encouraged to have one specific question, and the average session is about 20 minutes with a qualified tutor in the subject area.

To find out whether your local library offers this service, call Tutor.com at (800) 411-1970 ext. 228 and ask their representative. Also, search for your local library online and then check its home page, where its homework-help service, if it has one, is usually promoted.

Tutor.com also offers this service to library members in four states: Alabama, Alaska , Kansas, and Rhode Island. (You must be located in a particular state to access some of the links.)

Through Florida's Miami-Dade County Public Schools Dial-A-Teacher site, students can call for homework help at (305) 995-1600 Monday-Thursday, 5-8 p.m. The service is primarily for students in the Miami-Dade school system, but the tutors don't turn away others who call. There's always a Spanish-speaking teacher available, and some nights there are also French-speaking and Haitian Creole–speaking teachers. The service has been hit hard by budget cuts but expects to be in business at least through March 2010.

In New Mexico, the Albuquerque Teacher Federation offers a free Dial-A-Teacher homework service available statewide at (800) 947-8839.

Ohio has a free service, called Homework Now, staffed by professional librarians available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, to help students with homework and research.

Malaika Costello-Dougherty is a senior editor at Edutopia .

• Catalog & Account Help
• Log In / Register
• My Library Dashboard
• My Borrowing
• Checked Out
• Borrowing History
• ILL Requests
• My Collections
• For Later Shelf
• Completed Shelf
• In Progress Shelf
• My Settings

Homework Help Headquarters

Free Homework Help with Teachers in Libraries

The  Teachers in Libraries Program  offers homework help and tutoring from teachers and teachers’ aides who work in the  Clark County School District . Their services are available at listed library branches during the school year. This drop-in service is available to help students complete their homework and provide some extra instruction on a variety of subjects. This free service is supported by generous grant funding from Boyd Gaming, Nevada State Bank, Eagle Promotions, City of Las Vegas, and the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Foundation.

Click here to download our printable, two-sided English/Spanish flyer.

2023-2024 School Year Schedule

September 5, 2023 - May 2, 2024 Monday through Thursday 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. No appointment needed

Teacher Tutors are available at the following locations:

• Centennial Hills Library
• East Las Vegas Library
• Enterprise Library
• Rainbow Library
• Spring Valley Library
• Sunrise Library
• West Las Vegas Library
• Whitney Library
• Windmill Library

Please check the event calendar for  Homework Help and Tutoring for dates  at your favorite branch.

Nutrition & School Success

Studies show that students who eat regular, nutritious meals are less likely to be tired, and are able to retain more information. To help keep kids healthy and engaged, the Library District has partnered with Three Square to provide FREE meals for kids & teens up to age 18 at participating locations .

Online Resources for Virtual Assistance

And be sure to check out these great online resources for students, which are available through our website, and are all FREE with your library card!

Don't have a card yet? Sign up for instant access with our eCard .

Online Resources for Homework Help

Get Ready for School With These Free Online Learning Tools

Free Live Homework Help

Ar reading lists, more online resources.

Free FAFSA Help!

Science Comes to Life

Education.com

Middle School Learning

Find more resources by subject.

Science & Technology

Powered by BiblioCommons.

BiblioWeb: webapp06 Version 4.18.0 Last updated 2024/03/26 09:59

Homework Assistance Program (HAP) Mentors Give Thanks

• December 7, 2020
• Stories , Unlocking Opportunity

The Boston Public Library’s Homework Assistance Program (HAP) provides free, 100% accessible academic support for thousands of K-8 students in the city. HAP also provides employment and post-secondary skills development for over 50 high-achieving Boston ‘Teen Mentors’ each year. These exceptional youth deliver a cumulative 10,000 group and one-on-one tutoring lessons annually.

Below are quotes from mentors who share why they are thankful for the HAP program and your continued support :

The best part of HAP to me is working with the kids and seeing how they are doing when they come to visit every week. Ayat Yusef, 17, Boston Latin Academy

The best part of HAP to me is being able to see the faces of the students when they are satisfied with what they learned at each HAP session. Tiffany Trinh, 17, Boston Latin School

Thank you for all the support! The best part of the HAP program to me is being able to build friendships and bonds with the younger students. Franchezca Plaisival, 16, The Academy of the Pacific Rim

Thank you so much for the support you have offered us; the best part of HAP for me has been the intermissions between doing assignments, where kids get to talk about their day, and crack me up in the process. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season! Davian Rodriguez, 17, Boston Latin School

I want to thank you for all your support, personally. Your support means a lot to me and everyone at HAP. I came to HAP because I love working with kids, and I love school, so that combination fits perfectly with the job. The best part of HAP to me is helping the kids. I find it was so fun and enjoyable to work with kids younger than me. It is always a fun time if that’s either helping them with homework or even playing education games. And that is all so possible with the help and support of you. I hope you have a wonderful, safe, Thanksgiving and best wishes for a healthy and safe holiday season. Eric Moussignac, 16, Saint Joseph Prep

The best part of the HAP program to me is getting to work with different kids and helping them with their homework. I got to learn so many things from them. Nelissa Timothee, 17, TechBoston Academy

Thank you for all your support. The best part of HAP to me is the fact that I get to virtually meet and mentor students all over Boston. Daniela Acuna, 15, Boston Latin Academy

Share This Article

Follow us on instagram @bplfund.

Team BPL powerhouse runner: Katie Polson Hometown: Woburn, MA “I’m a person who likes to set and achieve big goals, so what could be better than making my marathon debut with the 2024 Boston Marathon while raising $10,000+ for the BPL! I’m honored to be a member of the Boston Public Library’s 2024 Marathon team because I firmly believe that education is the best avenue of investment to fix many of the challenges facing the world today, and the the BPL is a best in class example of delivering diverse and impactful education opportunities to a huge span of the community. I’m thrilled to be helping to contribute to enabling the BPL’s mission of Free to All!” #bostonmarathon2024 #bostonpubliclibrary

It was incredible to witness the power of neighbors coming together in honor of National Library Giving Day! Your excitement and enthusiasm inspired all of us here at the Boston Public Library Fund. We`re thrilled to announce that with the support of 630+ donors, we raised over $76,000 to fuel programming at the Central Library and its branches!📚 Thank you for helping us exceed our goal and ensuring the branches will receive additional funding for their amazing community programs! #LibraryGivingDay #bostonpubliclibrary #reading

Happy National Library Giving Day! We`re at the Central Library and making waves in the Boston Globe! Swing by to say hello or keep an eye out for us. 📚 Still haven`t made your donation? Click the link in our bio! #LibraryGivingDay #bostonpubliclibrary #readingisfun #supportlibraries

IT’S NATIONAL LIBRARY GIVING DAY!!📚 Show your pride by supporting the Boston Public Library today! Your contribution, big or small, makes a significant impact!  #bostonpubliclibrary📚 #read #librarygivingday #lovemylibrary @bplboston

🚨ATTENTION🚨 National Library Giving Day is in 1 day! Are you ready to join us?! Click the link in our bio now! #LibraryGivingDay #bostonpubliclibrary #readingisfun #supportlibraries

♦Mondays Made Magical with Acts of Giving♦ We love hearing from donors on why they choose to support the Boston Public Library Fund! Comment below on why you support the BPLF!

Team BPL powerhouse runner: Vanessa Thompson Hometown: Salem, MA “The Library has always been one of the most important spaces for me growing up. The library provided a safe space and opened new worlds for an awkward kid trying to navigate through some difficult times. As I got older, I understood the importance of libraries` place in communities; it was not just about the media but also about the space and all resources that are provided. And I`m so excited to help the BPL Fund continue to be that space for the next little kid trying to find their place in the world.” #bostonmarathon2024 #bostonpubliclibrary

Library Giving Day is coming up on April 3! Join us to reach our goal of raising $75,000 for programming at the Central Library and 25 branches! Your support will expand programming like the Dragon Dance Program at the Fields Corner Branch. Library staff invited Gund Kwok – the first women`s-only lion and dragon dance troupe – to the branch and over 70 patrons attended! Ready to make your gift – of any size – right now? Click the link in our bio! #LibraryGivingDay #bostonpubliclibrary #readingisfun #supportlibraries

Stay in touch with BPLF!

Subscribe to our mailing list.

Boston Public Library Fund 700 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02116

617-859-2027 [email protected]

© 2024 Boston Public Library Fund

Site development + design: bonnie katz design site concept designer: adam & co.

• Catalog & Account Guide
• Ask A Librarian
• Log In / Register
• My Library Dashboard
• My Borrowing
• Checked Out
• Borrowing History
• ILL Requests
• My Collections
• For Later Shelf
• Completed Shelf
• In Progress Shelf
• My Settings

Educator Toolbox

Learn more about how the library supports educators.

Get Started

The library is here to help educators!

Get started with Library Go , the library's program to provide free, virtual public library cards for all students.

Connect with your Children's Specialist , library staff dedicated to youth. They can suggest titles, gather materials, arrange class visits, and visit schools. You can find them at all library locations. To find the library nearest your school, please consult this map of library locations and public schools .

Explore all the free services for educators that the library offers on this page and visit the Digital Library for online resources you can use in your classroom!

Early Childhood Educators: check out these book lists and resources , especially for you.

Learn more about all the services the library offers for educators.

Educator Webinars

Attend a real-time webinar for parents and educators or view recorded presentations to learn about databases, e-books, homework help resources, and more.

Educator Status Library Cards

Registering your card as an educator increases the number of books you can check out and the number of books you can place on hold. Connect with the Children's Specialist at your library to have your account set to educator status.

Library Cards for your Students

Register your students in your classroom for library cards .

Homework Resources, Assistance, and Tutoring

Homework Centers  offer help from tutors, connection to resources, a space to study, and are always free.

Brainfuse HelpNow  provides online one-on-one homework assistance (with a library card) in English and Spanish, from 1 pm to 11 pm daily.

Reading Together  provides one-on-one reading practice to help boost students to grade-level reading. Participation is for students in grades 1-5 and is based on teacher recommendation.

Online resources for  elementary or middle school students  or  high school students .

Request Learning Materials

Let our librarians gather books and materials on specific topics for your students. Place a Learning Materials Request .

Schedule a Class Visit

If you're interested in scheduling a Library Go training for your teachers, inviting SPPL staff to visit your class, or would like to bring your class to the library, please schedule a class visit .

Debra S. Fish Early Childhood Resource Library , opens a new window

Supporting early childhood trainers, child care providers, and parents of young children. Early childhood materials on positive guidance, play, developmentally appropriate practice, anti-bias education, nature, ethics, technology, family engagement, and more.

Online Resources

Digital Library for Kids

Digital library for teens, online homework help.

Poetry for the Young

New & Upcoming Juvenile DVDs - Winter 2024

If You Liked: Man O' War

Thankful For the Small Things

Connecting students with the library, reading together, get library cards for your students, spps + sppl, early childhood educators.

Powered by BiblioCommons.

BiblioWeb: webapp05 Version 4.18.0 Last updated 2024/03/26 09:57

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Staffing Your Homework-Help Center

Pairing the right minds with student learners.

By Cindy Mediavilla | July 18, 2018

More than anything, staffers make the difference,” Eva Mitnick, director of Los Angeles Public Library’s engagement and learning division, said to me about the library’s after-school Student Zone program. Indeed, providing adequate staff is the single most important element in offering effective homework assistance at your library. While some librarians call their curriculum-based collection of computers and reference materials a homework center, true homework assistance cannot happen without a staff member or volunteers to help students complete their work. Plus, many youngsters need the attention of an adult or peers to keep them on task when completing school assignments. They may also need validation to succeed.

The challenge comes in maintaining a paid or volunteer workforce large enough to provide sufficient assistance to the multitude of students who use the library every day after school. Most libraries cannot afford to hire the number of part-time employees needed to provide necessary homework help. Nor are they prepared to recruit and train a battery of after-school volunteers. Still, many libraries have succeeded in accomplishing this seemingly impossible task by maximizing the combined efforts of paid and volunteer staff.

Paid versus volunteer staff

Most homework centers would not exist without volunteer help. Paid employees are usually responsible for recruiting, training, and scheduling homework helpers, but it is often the volunteers themselves who provide the actual after-school assistance. At the Hennepin County (Minn.) Library, each homework-help site has a team of three essential program personnel: a librarian, a lead tutor, and volunteers. More than 300 volunteers staff the program throughout the library.

In lieu of a salary, some libraries give their volunteer homework helpers free parking passes, email accounts, T-shirts, lapel pins, mugs, water bottles, and recognition through public newsletters or social media. The motivation to volunteer can be extrinsic—for example, the chance to build one’s résumé—or intrinsic. At Seattle Public Library’s Lake City branch, a retired homework assistant said she enjoys helping kids because it’s fun and the emotional reward is immediate. In addition, Seattle’s 230 homework helpers can attend all-city training on various topics, including teen behavior and race relations. Ninety percent of Seattle’s homework helpers are adults.

Consistency is key in a program where young students expect to see familiar faces every day. Therefore, some libraries prefer to hire their homework helpers, rather than rely on the unpredictability of volunteers. Boston Public Library pays its teen homework helpers $11 an hour and requires them to sign a contract stipulating that they will work the entire school year. Likewise, the Long Beach (Calif.) Public Library staffs its Family Learning Centers with paid learning guides who work for the library year-round and help with the summer reading program.

In their 2015 joint “Homework Help Best Practices” statement, the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) recommend that an in-house staff person be designated to manage the homework center and train, coordinate, and schedule volunteers. In Monterey County, California, part-time homework site coordinators are hired to oversee individual centers and recruit and schedule volunteer helpers. At the Castroville branch, for example, the site coordinator works closely with the local university to recruit service-learning students, who are required to complete 30 hours of volunteer service each semester. The library gets free help from educated young adults, while the college students receive credit for required community service. Everybody wins.

Staff qualifications

Many libraries look to local school districts for homework helpers who are either current or retired teachers. Perhaps the best example of this is at Chicago Public Library, where accredited teachers provide after-school homework help at most branches, four days a week. The educators, many of whom are bilingual, are paid through the privately funded Teacher in the Library program. Thousands of hours of assistance are provided library-wide every school year. In Boston, teacher-tutors offer after-school help courtesy of the Boston Teachers Union. A schedule of the tutors’ availability, which varies from branch to branch, is posted on the library’s website.

Of course, not all homework helpers are teachers, nor should they necessarily be expected to have extensive educational backgrounds. Libraries should, however, appoint assistants who enjoy working with kids and are committed to helping them succeed. Previous experience working with youth, either in a paid or voluntary capacity, is often preferred. At the Winters (Calif.) Community branch of the Yolo County Library, high school juniors and seniors become helpers only after spending one or two years as mentors-in-training. At the Free Library of Philadelphia, college-aged homework helpers become associate leaders in the after-school program only after serving as teen leadership assistants during high school.

Other qualities are also highly desirable. The primary responsibility of Los Angeles Public Library’s homework helpers is to assist students using Student Zone laptops to complete school assignments. Therefore, strong knowledge of and experience with computers are mandatory. The ability to read and speak in languages other than English is important, too. Across the country, libraries are being tasked with helping students who speak Farsi, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Urdu, and Vietnamese, among other languages.

The coordinator of King County (Wash.) Library System’s Study Zone program maintains a list of bilingual homework helpers, noting exactly where and when they are scheduled each day, so students can be referred accordingly. Other, more generic qualifications include problem-solving skills, patience, flexibility, organizational skills, the ability to work as a team player, access to reliable transportation, and availability after school and on the weekend.

Recruitment

Homework assistants are generally recruited in the late summer and early fall, before the school year begins. Libraries use various methods of recruitment, including word of mouth, in-person conversations with community members, and printed fliers. A colorful brochure distributed by Monterey County (Calif.) Free Libraries beckons prospective homework center volunteers by promising a rewarding experience where one can learn about library resources, explore science kits with students, and play educational games, in addition to helping children complete their homework.

Libraries also post recruitment announcements on their websites, linking either from the homework-help site, general volunteer recruitment page, or library jobs page, if the position is paid. In Hennepin County, the announcement for paid homework-help lead tutors includes program goals, the position’s primary duties and responsibilities, minimum qualifications, number of hours per week, and hourly wage.

Several libraries make use of established programs to provide homework assistants. These include Literacy Volunteers of America, AmeriCorps VISTA, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, America Reads, Learning Is ForEver, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. RUSA and YALSA recommend working with the National Honor Society to recruit teen homework volunteers.

College-aged helpers make good role models, too, especially in communities where dropout rates are high. Saint Paul (Minn.) Public Library recruits young adult assistants through local college work-study programs, which often pay up to 100% of the homework helper’s salary. Education majors and members of the Future Teachers of America work especially well with younger kids. College students may even treat the homework center as a laboratory for testing their own teaching and disciplinary skills.

Library staff also welcome the assistance of teenaged homework helpers. Despite occasional problems with teens forming cliques or flirting with each other, high schoolers perform as well as, if not better than, their older counterparts. At the La Habra branch of Orange County (Calif.) Public Libraries, sophomores, juniors, and seniors are recruited to help younger kids with homework. Once they gain enough experience, they can become tutor captains responsible for checking in and matching students with an appropriate helper. In a 2003 study of teen-assisted homework programs, Virginia Walter and I found that student helpers gain a sense of pride from serving their community, especially in low-income neighborhoods. We also learned that teen helpers are more socially competent and better prepared for the job market as a result of their homework center experience.

Benefits of homework-help programs

Students may develop meaningful relationships with homework helpers. In the library, young people have an opportunity to see adults in a nonclassroom, nonparental role. Most students appreciate the assistance they receive and understand that these adults are dedicating their time to help. Teenage homework helpers often bring hope and encouragement to neighborhoods where few positive role models exist. They prove that succeeding in school is possible. As one program coordinator explained, sometimes tutors become mentors.

Helping young people succeed in school can be very rewarding for the helpers, too. A retired teacher in San Diego told me she provides homework help because she wants to enrich children’s minds. Another helper, a retired administrator in Sacramento, California, revels in seeing youngsters’ “eyes light up” when they suddenly understand their homework. Likewise, a grandmother in King County, Washington, said she enjoys seeing students grow mentally as well as physically. “It’s a lot more fun helping other kids do their homework than it was helping my own daughters,” she joked.

CINDY MEDIAVILLA managed a homework center for Orange (Calif.) Public Library in the early 1990s and has been studying after-school homework programs ever since. Mediavilla has an MLS and a doctorate in library science from UCLA and was a public librarian for 18 years.

Tagged Under

• ALA Editions
• public libraries
• young adult services
• youth services

RELATED ARTICLES:

How to Get Teens in the Library this Summer

Innovative summer reading programs explored.

Giving Tweens Ownership in Space and Programs

Creating a sanctuary away from school expectations.

Your Account  |  Full Catalog

The Moscow Free Library and Reading Room opened in March of 1901 in one room of the Brown Building in downtown Moscow. The library was open two afternoons and two evenings a week and was operated by the Pleiades Club and the Moscow Historical Club. In 1903 members of the two clubs formed a committee to secure funding for a library building from the Andrew Carnegie Library Endowment. The Endowment granted the group $10,000. In 1904 Moscow residents approved a special tax to raise money for the building’s operation. A lot was purchased on the corner of Second and Jefferson Streets and Boise architect Watson Vernon was hired to design the library in the Mission Revival style, unique for northern Idaho. The building was completed in 1906 for just under $9,500, making it one of the last Carnegie libraries funded. The first major building improvement was made in 1931 with an addition that doubled the available space. In 1938 the front steps were rebuilt, replacing the curved stairs which had been a feature of the original architecture. In 1964 the basement was remodeled into a children’s library. Construction started in August 1982 to remodel and add to the original Carnegie building. In April 1983 the building was opened to the public, with the Carol Ryrie Brink Reading Room in the historic Carnegie building designated a special place for the children of the community. This addition more than doubled the space again. The Moscow branch serves as headquarters of the Latah County Library District, housing the administrative, adult services, youth services, access services and technical services departments. The Moscow Carnegie Library was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. More information about the library may be found on the Society of Architectural Historians’ “Archipedia” website.

110 S. Jefferson St. Moscow, ID 83843

Mailing Address: 110 S. Jefferson St. Moscow, ID 83843

208-882-3925

[email protected]

Friends of the Moscow Library

The Friends of the Moscow Library meets regularly to plan their semi-annual book sale held at the Latah County Fairgrounds. Funds raised by the Friends support Moscow programs such as Summer Reading, Everybody Reads, Books for Babies at Gritman Medical Center, and various capital projects.

Moscow Community Resources

Discover the people and organizations working to keep your local community a great place to live.

Moscow Storytimes

Babytime : Come share rhymes and songs, board books, and bell and shaker time at this fun bonding opportunity that helps your baby get ready to read.

Storytime : Join us for picture books, songs, wiggle rhymes and a fun experience that gets kiddos excited about reading.

New on the Shelves in Moscow

New adult books.

New Youth Books

Upcoming Events in Moscow

Moscow – library hour, moscow – tots and tales, moscow – open make, moscow – alphabits storytime, moscow – babes and books, moscow – tuesday teabirds book club, moscow – poetry reading.

110 S. Jefferson St. Moscow, Idaho 83843

208.882.3925

Digital Library

Events Calendar

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Nibh tortor id aliquet lectus proin nibh nisl condimentum. Placerat in egestas erat imperdiet sed. Egestas tellus rutrum tellus pellentesque eu tincidunt tortor aliquam nulla. Sagittis nisl rhoncus mattis rhoncus urna. Sit amet nulla facilisi morbi tempus iaculis urna id. Imperdiet massa tincidunt nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Non consectetur a erat nam at lectus urna duis. Aliquam eleifend mi in nulla posuere sollicitudin aliquam ultrices. Congue nisi vitae suscipit tellus mauris. Nunc id cursus metus aliquam eleifend mi in.

Morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames. Vitae semper quis lectus nulla at volutpat diam ut. Accumsan sit amet nulla facilisi morbi tempus iaculis. Lectus quam id leo in vitae turpis. Nascetur ridiculus mus mauris vitae ultricies. Iaculis at erat pellentesque adipiscing. Cursus metus aliquam eleifend mi in nulla. Donec ac odio tempor orci dapibus. Egestas sed tempus urna et pharetra pharetra. Nisi lacus sed viverra tellus in hac habitasse. Integer vitae justo eget magna fermentum iaculis eu non. Massa placerat duis ultricies lacus. Felis imperdiet proin fermentum leo vel orci porta. Aliquam sem et tortor consequat id porta nibh venenatis. Amet luctus venenatis lectus magna fringilla urna. Faucibus interdum posuere lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing. Proin nibh nisl condimentum id venenatis. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec. Massa placerat duis ultricies lacus. Ridiculus mus mauris vitae ultricies leo integer malesuada.

Est pellentesque elit ullamcorper dignissim cras tincidunt lobortis feugiat. Accumsan lacus vel facilisis volutpat. Auctor elit sed vulputate mi sit amet mauris. Ullamcorper morbi tincidunt ornare massa. Eu non diam phasellus vestibulum lorem sed risus. Mattis aliquam faucibus purus in massa. Facilisis volutpat est velit egestas dui. Ut tristique et egestas quis. Scelerisque eu ultrices vitae auctor eu. Et egestas quis ipsum suspendisse ultrices gravida dictum fusce.

Vitae proin sagittis nisl rhoncus mattis rhoncus. Amet venenatis urna cursus eget nunc scelerisque. Arcu bibendum at varius vel pharetra vel. Malesuada fames ac turpis egestas integer eget aliquet nibh. Dapibus ultrices in iaculis nunc sed. Amet tellus cras adipiscing enim eu. Pellentesque massa placerat duis ultricies lacus sed turpis. Pellentesque sit amet porttitor eget dolor morbi. Et netus et malesuada fames ac. Ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing. Cursus turpis massa tincidunt dui ut. Eu turpis egestas pretium aenean pharetra magna ac placerat. Condimentum lacinia quis vel eros donec ac odio tempor orci. Ultrices eros in cursus turpis. Ut eu sem integer vitae justo eget magna fermentum.

Scelerisque mauris pellentesque pulvinar pellentesque. Dictum non consectetur a erat nam. In massa tempor nec feugiat. Eu scelerisque felis imperdiet proin fermentum leo vel. Tempus urna et pharetra pharetra massa massa ultricies. Netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas maecenas. Commodo viverra maecenas accumsan lacus vel. Tristique nulla aliquet enim tortor at auctor urna nunc id. Est placerat in egestas erat imperdiet. Tortor at auctor urna nunc id cursus metus aliquam eleifend. Consectetur libero id faucibus nisl tincidunt eget nullam. Mus mauris vitae ultricies leo integer. Risus in hendrerit gravida rutrum quisque non tellus orci ac. Gravida dictum fusce ut placerat orci nulla pellentesque dignissim. Pharetra vel turpis nunc eget lorem dolor sed viverra ipsum. Faucibus a pellentesque sit amet porttitor.

Subscribe or renew today

Every print subscription comes with full digital access

Science News

Your last-minute guide to the 2024 total solar eclipse.

Millions of people are inside the path of totality in the United States for the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse. Cities in the path are making plans to celebrate the event, like erecting giant eclipse glasses.

SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images

Share this:

By Karen Kwon

April 5, 2024 at 12:00 pm

For many living in North America, April 8 will be a day to remember for years to come.

The moon is going to travel between the sun and Earth, blocking the fiery ball from our view in the middle of the day, causing a total solar eclipse ( SN: 1/4/24 ). Tens of millions of people in the path of totality will experience up to 4.5 minutes of darkness, nearly two minutes longer than the 2017 Great American Eclipse . People not in the path of totality will still get to enjoy the partial blockage for at least a few minutes or longer, depending on their location.

Here are answers to some of the biggest questions about watching this incredible event.

When and where can I watch the eclipse?

The sun’s shadow is scheduled to enter North America via the west coast of Mexico around 12 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. The path of totality then continues diagonally across the continental United States, hitting states such as Texas, Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio and New York, Vermont and Maine. It creeps into Canada via Ontario and Quebec, before finally exiting through Newfoundland and Labrador at about 5:15 p.m. Newfoundland Daylight Time.

This interactive map from NASA can help you prepare for your eclipse viewing. Search and click on your location, and a pop-up panel will inform you of the spot’s weather and the exact times of the solar eclipse’s progression.

What are eclipse glasses and where can I get them?

Wearing proper eyewear is essential. Regular sunglasses will not protect you when you look directly at the sun ( SNE: 4/27/17 ). And you do not want to stare at the sun with naked eyes; that can damage your eyes. Therefore, you need to get your hands on eclipse glasses if you have not already done so.

It might be too late for you to order a pair from an online retailer. Plus, the American Astronomical Society issued a warning on counterfeit and fake eclipse glasses that are sold on the internet. It posted lists of trusted manufacturers and vendors that sell pairs that are ISO certified, which ensures safety. Both webpages can also be helpful when checking the validity of the glasses that you already own.

Fear not if you have not secured eclipse glasses. Big-box stores such as Lowe’s Home Improvement might still have some in stock. You might also be able to pick up a free pair of eclipse glasses at a library, museum or Warby Parker store .

What if I don’t get a pair of eclipse glasses in time?

There are still several ways to observe the eclipse. One of the easiest ways is to use a strainer or a colander — or any object with holes , really — to observe the object’s shadow. You can also cross your fingers so they look like a waffle to create holes if you’re in a pinch. It might feel less exciting than watching the sun itself, but it is still pretty cool to see the shadows going from their original shapes to crescents as the moon overtakes the sun. You can also devise your own pinhole camera if you are feeling crafty.

There will also be plenty of livestreams. U.S. National Science Foundation will stream one from Dallas . NASA will offer several , including one in Spanish and another with a telescope feed. The agency will also broadcast the launch of three rockets during the eclipse to study how the dimming of the sun affects Earth’s upper atmosphere.

Other science projects will also offer live feeds. One example is the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project , which will send weather balloons to observe the atmospheric perturbations during the eclipse. Participating teams plan to stream the views from the edge of space .

Are there cool science phenomena to watch out for?

If you happen to look away from the sun, you may notice a perceived shift in color occurring on Earth ( SN: 4/1/24 ). Blues and green will become more noticeable, while reds become dark or even black. And because the sun will be close to its solar maximum, people might be able to see petal-like streams or a large puff of gas shooting away from the star’s surface ( SN: 1/4/24 ).

For more eclipse stories, our student magazine Science News Explores prepared a special issue for young eclipse watchers, and our publisher Society for Science collected resources , ready for you to browse.

How can I take good pictures of the solar eclipse using a smartphone?

You can place a solar filter or an extra pair of eclipse glasses in front of the smartphone’s lens to photograph the partial eclipse. But make sure to remove the filter during the totality. Also, don’t forget to turn of the camera’s flash. Space.com has an eight-step guide for acing the shots.

Are there any cool citizen science projects that I can participate in?

There are a few that are still taking volunteers. One is SunSketcher. Using the SunSketcher app to capture images of the sun will help scientists to study the bright spots called Baily’s beads that appear before and after totality. Download the app on your phone and start running it at least five minutes before the total eclipse to contribute.

The Eclipse Soundscapes Project will collect sound data to study how eclipses affect life on Earth. It might be too late to sign up to become a data collector, but you can still participate by becoming a data analyst .

When is the next total solar eclipse?

There will not be a total eclipse in the United States and Canada for another 20 years. But if you’re up for travel, other countries will experience totality before 2044 ( SN: 4/4/24 ) . For example, Spain will be on the path of totality in 2026 and 2027, China and Japan in 2035, and Australia in 2028, 2030, 2037 and 2038.

And stay tuned for coverage from our astronomy writer Adam Mann, who will be on-site near Dallas with some scientists studying — and experiencing the wonder — of this total solar eclipse.   

More Stories from Science News on Science & Society

​​During the awe of totality, scientists studied our planet’s reactions

Protein whisperer Oluwatoyin Asojo fights neglected diseases

How a 19th century astronomer can help you watch the total solar eclipse

Timbre can affect what harmony is music to our ears

Not all cultures value happiness over other aspects of well-being

‘Space: The Longest Goodbye’ explores astronauts’ mental health

‘Countdown’ takes stock of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile

Why large language models aren’t headed toward humanlike understanding

Subscribers, enter your e-mail address for full access to the Science News archives and digital editions.

Not a subscriber? Become one now .