Director's Corner by Sandra Collins

It’s that time of year again – the beginning of a new school year for students of all ages. Northland provides resources and support for students of all ages – whether enrolled in a formal program or pursuing their own plan for lifelong learning.

• Northland Tutor/Tutor.com is an online tutoring program for students in K-12, college or adult education programs. Tutors may be accessed daily from 3 to 10 p.m. on any library computer or, with a Northland Library card, from any location through www.northlandlibrary.org and clicking on Northland Tutor. Just log on, specify grade level and subject and get help in anything from 3rd grade math to putting together a resume.

• Northland Tutor/Tutor.com Skill Center provides access to resources for subject areas for K-12, college and adult education. You can access practice standardized test such as the SAT, GRE, GED, worksheets for elementary school math, and many other sites related to subjects taught at all levels. The Skills Center is available 24/7 at http://www.northlandlibrary.org/ and clicking on Northland Tutor.

• Children’s & Young Adult Department staff can provide assistance in choosing material in a variety of formats to support your child’s formal school work, has copies of the textbooks used in elementary school for North Allegheny (for those days when books are left at school), and assistance in choosing reading material appropriate to your child’s reading interests, age and reading level. The collection is designed for children and young adults to age 17.

• The Adult Services Department staff can provide assistance in choosing material in all formats for to support college level work and independent learning. Many online databases are available through http://www.northlandlibrary.org/ and staff is available to help by email, phone or in person.

Just a few of the many ways Northland is connecting our communities.

What's Your Excuse??

Funding for libraries is only three-tenths of one percent (.3%) of the entire state budget. If we make enough noise, we might be able to keep our funding at the present level.

Here’s our message:“Please freeze library funding next year at the same amount it is this year. Thank you.”

Here are two local legislators’ email addresses:

Mike Turzai: mturzai@pahousegop.com

Jane Claire Orie: jorie@pasen.gov

(For more legislators’ emails, click here: http://www.pasen.gov/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm )

(If you send an email, please send a copy to: Governor Ed Rendell and Dr. Gerald Zahorchak secretary@psupen.psu.edu, Secretary of Education.

For more information about library funding, click on the Save Our Libraries! page:http://www.ncld2.org/saveourlibraries/

Now you HAVE NO EXCUSE!!