Live homework help online @ San Jose

Library Administrator's Digest, May 2002

Children and young adults served by Berryessa and Hillview branch libraries don't have to be stumped by a tough homework assignment! Kids and teens from fifth grade to 12th grade can simply visit Berryessa or Hillview to get immediate help from qualified tutors. The two branches began a seven-month pilot this month offering Live Homework Help, an online tutoring service from Tutor.com that connects students to expert tutors in math, science, social studies and English via the Internet.

Live Homework Help is simple to use. Children and young adults log on to designated library computer terminals, then enter their grade level and the subject they need help in. Students are immediately connected to a tutor in an Online Classroom, for up to 20 minutes of help. Students and tutors can review specific homework questions in the Online Classroom, using features such as controlled chat and interactive white board, and share Web browsing. When the session is over, students can print their session for future reference or to share with a parent, guardian or teacher. Both tutors and students complete surveys and this information is aggregated and shared with the library each month.

Live Homework Help tutors are certified teachers, college professors, professional tutors and graduate school students from across the country. All of the participating tutors have received a seven-year criminal background check and reference check from Kroll Background America (students' credentials are confirmed by their university) and have been certified through the Tutor.com Training Program.

The service is being made available through the California State Library Live Homework Help Grant Program, which provided Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds provided through the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the state librarian. California is the first state library to work with Tutor.com to offer online tutoring services. More than 50 public library jurisdictions from across the state applied for the program and 39 of the applications were accepted.

Tutor.com currently provides tutoring services for more than 60 public libraries and education organizations across the country. In addition to San Jose, these include the Boston Public Library, San Francisco Public Library, Louisville Free Public Library, Phoenix Public Library, King County Library System (WA) and Cleveland Public Library. News Release, San Jose (CA) Public Library, March 29, 2002