The Evening Library program at Einstein Middle School in Shoreline serves many purposes for the Holloway family – namely giving mom Sue a night of peace, quiet and no fighting over who gets to use the computer.
“It’s really nice to have three people on three computers and no fights,” Holloway said.
The Evening Library program, open from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, offers a teacher-supervised, open library and 77 computers for families in the district. The library has more than 17,000 books and magazines for the elementary through high school level and the computers are equipped with several research databases including ProQuest and a connection to the King County Library.
The program serves as a safe place for kids whose parents work late as well.
“More and more kids are going home to nobody home, they are latch-key kids, and they need some place safe and inviting to do homework,” Einstein librarian Mary Jo Heller said.
She added that the program includes several teachers on site that can help with school work and library or computer questions. Parent volunteers often are available to help students as well.
Many families, like the Holloways, also use the program to spend time together. She often uses an evening at the library as an incentive to encourage daughters Tori, 13, and Katie, 9 ,to get their homework done early.
“Its a wonderful resource,” Holloway said. “We try to go at least once a week.
In its sixth year, the grant-funded program is one of a kind in the Shoreline School District, Heller said.
And while the program is free for those who use it, Evening Library costs an estimated $10,000 each year, and is primarily funded through grants from the Shoreline Foundation and the school’s PTSA.
For more information about the Evening Library call 206-368-4730.
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