Tacoma students can now get help on their homework seven days a week, and it won’t cause their parents to fuzzily recall old algebra formulas from back in their school days or shell out extra dough for a private tutor.
As long as students have a library card at Tacoma Public Library, they can log on to an online homework help service, and work with experienced tutors to find solutions to their academic questions when their teachers are not around.
Between 3-11 p.m., students in grades three through 12 can get live assistance in math, science, reading, writing, social studies and language arts by chatting with trained tutors.
Math tutors are able to assist in basic skills, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus, while science tutors are versed in biology, chemistry, physics and earth-science subjects. A writing lab is also available for students to submit their work ahead of time for review and comments from an experienced writer.
The Help Now service became available in September after Tacoma Public Library made it a priority to fund the $60,000 three-year contract. Pierce County Library System has offered a similar service for the past two years, but was not available to Tacoma residents.
“We saw a great need for this a while ago,” said David Domkoski, media relations director for the library. “This is something that’s providing education services to kids and families… We knew that if Tacoma had this, they would use this, and they are.”
So far, Domkoski said the library has received a lot of response to the service, especially from teachers and educators.
Merrilyn Larson, a counselor at Meeker Middle School, said since her staff found out about this service recently, they have made it their mission to ensure all their students, and their parents, are aware of the service.
“We think (Help Now) is going to be a nice addition and support system for all of our students at Meeker,” she said.
Larson noted Meeker offers after-school tutoring five days a week on campus, but that many students are not able to take advantage of the help at those hours.
She also added that many students feel uncomfortable asking for help from adults at school. She noted the flexible hours and the privacy for students to be able to seek help, along with their parents, will maximize the number of students who can receive the help they need.
Help is also available in advanced placement courses and introductory college-level classes. Practice tests for exams, such as the Scholastic Aptitude Tests, and skill building lessons are just one click away from the student as well.
Services are available to English and Spanish-speaking students.
Access this and the library’s other online services at http://www.tacomapubliclibrary.org
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