School’s back in session and you know what that means: homework. But that usually requires a quiet space. Fortunately, the Santa Maria Public Library has got that covered.
On Sept. 19, the library celebrated the grand re-opening of its Homework Center. It’s a space for local students to study, receive help in a variety of subjects, and prepare for tests.
The center opened last January. But according to Dawn Jackson, the library’s manager for youth services, the center wasn’t being utilized as much as they hoped, so they decided to make a second announcement.
“We got quite a few kids, but not as many as we hoped to see,” Jackson told the Sun. “We have a growing program, so there’s kind of a need.”
Jackson said the Homework Center was started after staff saw a number of local students who needed help. Also, she added, local test scores reflected a need and teachers frequently sent students to the library for assistance.
The center is possible with the help of a grant the Santa Maria Library Foundation acquired from the Woods Fund. Students receive help from tutors. Homework coordinators work with parents to direct students to the tutors, who speak both English and Spanish.
Additionally, students get access to Brainfuse, a live, interactive internet-based program with help from thousands of tutors, all of whom have an educational background. Students from kindergarten through college have access to the program, which is available seven days a week from 1 to 10 p.m., and students can receive help from tutors as soon as they log in.
Brainfuse offers help in a variety of subjects and can even help with preparation for the SAT, GRE, LSAT, and MCAT tests.
A library card—which is free—is required to access Brainfuse, but one is not needed for the Homework Center. No appointment is needed for the center; students can simply walk right in.
Other than tutors, the library has access to a slew of databases to assist with research. The library even has access to Hoopla, a streaming site similar to Netflix but for public libraries, that contains movies, ebooks, music, and even some graphic novels.
Jackson added that even though these services are free to the general public, the library pays for them, and she encouraged people to make use of them.
“The more use [those services] get,” Jackson said, “the more we can make a case for getting others.”
The Santa Maria Public Library is located at 421 S. McClelland St. and the Homework Center is open from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. For more information on what the Santa Maria Public Library has to offer, visit cityofsantamaria.org/library or call 925-0994.
Highlights
Learn how to be prepared for a disaster. The Lompoc Hospital District Foundation presents the first annual Disaster Preparedness Fair intended to improve disaster readiness among the community. The fair is held in collaboration with the American Red Cross, the city of Lompoc, the Lompoc Fire Department, the Lompoc Valley Medical Center (LVMC), and Vandenberg Air Force Base. The fair will take place on Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the parking lot of the LVMC.
Staff Writer David Minsky wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, email, or mail.
This article appears in Oct 13-20, 2016.
