Oct. 27, 2006 — Online homework help for V.I. students is now just a click away. Homework Help @Your Library — the latest offering to come out of the Divisions of Libraries, Archives and Museums — is now available through the V.I. Public Library System's website.
"We're trying it out," Territorial librarian Wallace Williams said Friday, adding that its a service currently used by about 1,500 libraries across the country.
It works like this: First get a library card and personal Identification number (PIN) from the closest library. Then go to www.library.gov.vi, enter the site and then click on the banner entitled, "You've got homework. We've got help." Then log on using your library card number and PIN.
The service is available during prime homework hours: 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Subjects include math, science, social studies, and English.
"If you're Spanish speaking, you can get it in Spanish," Williams said.
The service links students up to a tutor located at a remote location. He said that in the event questions arise about local issues that off-island tutors can't answer, students can link up with tutors in the Virgin Islands.
Williams said the library system is in the midst of a push to get the word out to students about the new service.
It joins a growing list of other online services offered by the library system.
Williams spoke at great length about the ability to perform an online search of the library's 150,000 volumes of rare books — all available at no charge to library cardholders with a PIN.
He said that an Ask a Librarian program will come online in a few weeks. In this program, library cardholders with a PIN can ask an online librarian where to find the information they need.
"We continue to develop our virtual library," he said.
Here's where to get a library card:
St. Thomas
Enid Baa Library
20 Dronningens Gade, Charlotte Amalie
774-0630
9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday
St. John
Elaine I. Sprauve Library
Off Route 108
776-6359
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Closed Saturday and Sunday
St. Croix
Florence Williams Public Library
1122 King St., Christiansted
773-5715
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday
Athalie Petersen Public Library
Closed for renovation; will reopen mid-November.
Sunny Isle Public Library kiosk
Sunny Isle Shopping Center
719-3092
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Closed Saturday and Sunday
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