Meade County Public Library to provide online tutoring service By Cindy Henning At the March meeting of the library board, Director James Mitchell reported that a homework help service called tutor.com will be available to students from grades 4 through 12 through the library’s Web site. Lincoln Trail Regional librarian Nelda Moore added that all of the subscribing libraries, especially Paducah, had been very pleased with the service. The single exception was Grayson County where they found out students are not assigned homework. Another computer Web service again offered through the library will be streaming audio for classical, jazz, blues and world music, as well as audio books for children and young adults. The director explained that the first attempt a few years back was not successful, but improvements had been made that should guarantee a great experience. He cited the steady increase in hits on the Web site from 2151 in February 2003, to 4,612 in February 2006, as proof of the need for more Web access to library services. Future plans include improving the Web site design by the end of summer and going wireless within the next few years. Mitchell and trustee Tony Black updated the board with the summer concert plans. The May 13 concert will feature two rock music bands. Blues and jazz will provide smooth sounds on June 17 and the Louisville public radio station WFPK’s Berk Bryant will host the bluegrass show on July 15. Mark your calendars now and watch for further details as the dates approach. The director reported several successful programs. The drawing classes held the first and third Thursday of each month are being well received by about a dozen participants. Yu-Gi-Oh classes and tournaments rotate monthly so both experience and novice players can enjoy the card game. Prenatal classes offered in conjunction with the health department will continue on the fourth Thursday of each month. They are also working together to provide a first aid class on April 24 at 1 p.m. The board approved the amended proposed 2006-2007 library budget totaling $532,480 after adding a capital improvement fund line item at Moore’s suggestion. She recommended a contingency fund equaling six months of operating expenses be kept in the event some problem occurs with funding, such as happened in Shelby County when the PVA evaluations were not accepted by Frankfort. The regional librarian also presented information about area training workshops on behavioral interviewing and library building that could be helpful to the director and trustees. The February library circulation report showed 4,337 books and 3,543 nonbooks checked out. 2,086 people signed up for computer usage in the library and 105 people became new patrons. Twenty-three programs drew a total of 544 children. 181 adults attended the twenty-two programs available to them. Mitchell said the bookmobile is having fewer repair problems. Bookmobile statistics showed 1,077 books circulated to 363 borrowers in February. In that one short month, nine programs reached 109 people and 174 videos were checked out through the bookmobile. Visit your library at 400 Library Place in Brandenburg, call 422-2094 or go online a www.meadereads.org to find out more about your library.
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