Providing Homework Help in Providing Homework Help in Your LibraryYour Library

Patty Wong

Deputy Director

Stockton-San Joaquin County

Public Library

Patty.Wong@ci.stockton.ca.us

Pattywong61@comcast.net

An Infopeople Workshop

Workshop GoalsWorkshop Goals

Identify your resources– financial

– personnel– administrative

Create an effective plan to incorporate homework help with existing library services

Make a commitment to begin the process

Review HandoutsReview Handouts

Workshop AgendaPowerPoint PresentationAction Plan40 Assets (in English and Spanish)Potential PartnersPotential FundersHuman Resource Considerations

More HandoutsMore Handouts

Sample Activities for Homework Help: Low, Intermediate and High Levels

Evaluation Considerations Needs Checklist Offering Homework Help Services Webliography Bibliography Evaluation

AgendaAgenda

• Homework Services to Offer

• Examples of low, intermediate, and high-

cost programs

• Nuts and Bolts– staff– resources – funding

• Operations• Marketing• Evaluation

IntroductionsIntroductions

1. Who are you? Do you offer homework help now? What do you offer?

2. What do you want to get out of this workshop?

Ask Yourself These QuestionsAsk Yourself These Questions

Does your Library’s mission statement support offering homework help as a service?

Do you have the resources needed to make a change?

Is there demand in your community? Is there commitment from:

– management? – staff?

Why Should the Library Offer Why Should the Library Offer Homework Help?Homework Help?

The Mission of the Public Library– The Library’s role

• community resource• youth developer

The Need– community demand– peak customer use– public and organizational expectations

Shrinking Resources in the Schools

Youth DevelopmentYouth Development

How can Library staff make a difference in the lives of young

people?

Asset BuildingAsset Building

External Assets– library staff play an important role in fostering

external assets– Make asset building part of your Action Plan

Internal Assets– library can’t directly influence

40 developmental assets from

Search Institute, Inc.

Homework Help at the Library – Homework Help at the Library – Current ServicesCurrent Services

What kinds of service are you currently offering?

When and how often do you provide that service?

Fill Out Your Action Plan section on:

Your Vision What do you provide now?When would you provide it?

Costs and ImpactsCosts and Impacts

Get the most bang for your buck

Costs– low, intermediate, high

Impacts– low, intermediate, high

Low CostLow Cost

Minimal or no direct staffing

Self-directed

Initial need for some reallocation of resources

May be tied to existing service or program

Relationship with external organization for maximum impact

Low Cost ExamplesLow Cost Examples

Homework Help collection (self-help)Programs: Stockton-San Joaquin

County Public Library’s

– Homework Help packet– Senior Project packet

Collaboration ExamplesCollaboration Examples

Starting small:- local community/university/high

school volunteers or workstudy- collaboration with another

homework help agency (offering space, resources)

Relationship BuildingRelationship Building

California State Library sponsored– Tutor.com: free live homework assistance

available from referrals for all California students

– 24/7: free reference at www.qandcafe.comSan Joaquin County Office of Ed

– Math Tutoring

Intermediate Costs Intermediate Costs

Direct staff supportProvision of expertise and guidanceOngoing costsDevelopment of new and related

servicesStrong relationship with schools and

other partners

Intermediate Cost ExamplesIntermediate Cost Examples

Homework Resource Centers– dedicated materials– space– dedicated staffing

Web presence with linksRegularly scheduled programs

and events

Web-based Homework Web-based Homework Help SitesHelp Sites

High Cost – High ImpactHigh Cost – High Impact

Extensive staff involvement– paid and volunteer employees

Youth driven, youth development programs

Comprehensive, full-service, multi-faceted

Continual funding requirements

Well-developed relationship with schools and other partners

High Cost ExamplesHigh Cost Examples

Homework Centers – full youth programs with homework help, enrichment and recreation, offered on a regular basis in the Library

Homework Centers operating in the schools– Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library

Live Homework Help - full service programming for students, parents and teachers

California ModelsCalifornia Models

Tutor.com (Live Homework Help)

QandACafe.com and Other 24/7

Web-based and electronic resources

Full-service Homework Centers

Combinations of services

Action Plan

Fill in the section on:

Level Of Homework Help Service

Your VisionYour Vision

What kinds of services do you wish you could offer?

Questions to Keep in Mind Questions to Keep in Mind

What services would you like to include in your homework help plan?

Who are the gatekeepers to implement the process?

How do you introduce this program to the public? To staff?

Getting StartedGetting Started

Assess your strengths and needs

Develop an Action Plan

– include all existing and potential resources– include timelines, deadlines, roles and

responsibilities – commit to the process

Assess Your StrengthsAssess Your Strengths

Existing or Potential – People

• staff, volunteers, partners– Physical

• operations, partners– Financial

• funding streams, partners

People and ConnectionsPeople and Connections

Who are your partners?

Who are your allies?

Your competitors?

Action Plan

Fill in the section on:

People And Connections

Physical ResourcesPhysical Resources

What other resources do you have?– Equipment and materials– Space– Support & outside services– Publicity/marketing– Audience

Action Plan

Fill in the section on:

Inventory Of Physical Resources

Financial ResourcesFinancial Resources

Does your library provide fiscal support for homework help now?

What are the existing and potential funders for the program?

Funding ResourcesFunding Resources

Education:School DistrictsCounty Office of Education

Municipal and Government:City and County associated departmentsCalifornia State LibraryLSTA/IMLS

More Financial SupportMore Financial Support

Financial institutions– local and national foundations– grantmaking agencies

Library support– Friends of the Library– Library Foundation

Action Plan

Fill in the section on:

Financial Resources

Operations- Putting it All TogetherOperations- Putting it All Together

Staffing and roles– What staff do you have committed to the

program?– What do they do?

Action Plan

Fill out the Section on

Operations - Staffing

Operations - BudgetOperations - Budget

Budget– How many resources can you afford?– Is your budget fixed or flexible to change

with the needs of the program?– Who do you need to involve in securing

stable financial support?

Action Plan

Fill out the section on:

Operations – Budget

Operations - PrioritiesOperations - Priorities

What services/programs have a secondary priority?

Action Plan

Fill out the section on:

Operations - Priority

Operations Considerations - Operations Considerations - StructureStructure

Structure– Is the program open to everyone?– Is there a grade level preference?– Will you require parental permission to

participate? – How do you handle waiting lists?

Operations Considerations – Operations Considerations – Service PlanService Plan

Service Plan– Does the Library’s Mission and Vision

support the Homework Help program?– Include the Homework Help program in

any written documents concerning the Library’s Service Plan

Operations Considerations – Operations Considerations – Recruitment and TrainingRecruitment and Training

Review your staffing needsHow do you include Human Resources

in your plan to recruit, select, train, and retain?

Are there any current tools that you use to assist these efforts?

Operations Considerations – Operations Considerations – Forms and ReportingForms and Reporting

Document early and oftenShare your successReview the Library’s current forms in

useThink about:

– teacher contact– parent contact– analysis

Operations Considerations – Operations Considerations – Ancillary ServicesAncillary Services

Enrichment ActivitiesRecreation ActivitiesHealthy Snack

Action Plan

Fill in the section on:

Operations Considerations

What are your NEEDS?What are your NEEDS?

What are the missing

ingredients in your

organization to offering

homework help?

MarketingMarketing

Use existing communications and public relations channels

Publicize your success and needs– community– participants and their parents– schools– funders

Assign a point person to handle the media

Involve your staff at all levels

Evaluating Your Homework Evaluating Your Homework Help ProgramHelp Program

Continual review

SWOT

Budget integration

Staff buy in

Communication with community Be responsive to suggestions - and

stick with it

Leveraging Your ResourcesLeveraging Your Resources

How to turn an evaluation into

$500k worth of support

CommitmentCommitment

Keep the outcome in the forefront

Stick to the plan and your timelineInvolve the staff, the public and Library

management for maximum support

Next StepsNext Steps

• Planning• Set up your timeline• RIGHT NOW make your commitment

in writing• Take out the sheet “Offering Homework

Help Services – Immediate Action” and commit to getting started

Workshop EvaluationWorkshop Evaluation

Please fill out the Evaluation Form in your packet.

For More AssistanceFor More Assistance

Patty Wong

(209) 937-8364

(209) 952-2798

Patty.Wong@ci.stockton.ca.us

Pattywong61@comcast.net