MARYSVILLE – Jesse Young sits at a Marysville Public Library computer working his way through an algebra equation.
He uses the cursor in a drawing program to make mathematics symbols the keyboard can’t make, and when he doesn’t understand a problem, he types a question for his tutor.
Julie Busch / The Herald
Young, 18, a senior at Granite Falls High School, is one of about 300 students who have used Sno-Isle Libraries’ new online tutoring service.
“I told some people at school about it, and they were pretty interested,” Young said. “Most of my friends have home computers. It’s really convenient being on the Web.”
The library system began implementing the program at some branches in September, and it will be available systemwide by early March, Sno-Isle spokeswoman Mary Kelly said.
Students can get help in English, math, science and social studies for fourth through 12th grades and college introductory courses 3-10 p.m. daily. Help is available in Spanish 3-7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
The program, offered by Tutor.com, costs Sno-Isle about $50,000 a year, but the service is free to students because it’s funded by taxes, Kelly said.
Students can use the program from home by logging onto the library district’s Web page, www.sno-isle.org.
The library collects student comments, which so far have been rave reviews.
“I think it’ll be a huge relief to parents to know this is available,” Kelly said.
Marysville librarian Maggie Buckholz’s children are 18- and 20-years-old.
“Where was it when we were struggling? As a parent, I wish it had been available for my kids. They stopped asking me math questions about fifth grade,” Buckholz said with a laugh.
Parents tend to want to answer the problems for students, while tutors lead them through a process to work out the problems, Kelly said.
“Students these days use technology so much more than we did, and they’re so much more comfortable with it,” she said. “Students often come to the library, and they want and need that help, and our staff is not trained to do that. So when this came along, we knew there was a need for it.”
About 130 students used the program in September, and that number has grown steadily as more libraries install the software and word spreads. The library system has about 300 computers among its 20 branches.
The program has been most popular among eighth-graders, followed by sixth-, seventh-, ninth- and 11th-graders. In December, 95 percent of those using it were girls.
Each session has a time limit, but it’s long enough to allow students to work through problems, and they can log back on for more help, she said.
Home-schoolers also can use the program.
The program has a feature called Assignment Alert, which allows teachers to notify the local library of upcoming assignments so library staff have time to gather resource materials to help the students.
Reporter Cathy Logg: 425-339-3437 or logg@heraldnet.com.
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