Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
San Rafael library highlights reading buddies, math club, student cards and online tutoring
Summary
Staff described in-branch reading buddies (grades 3–5), a 10-week math club, drop-in teen homework help with after-school snacks, Brainfuse online tutoring, and a 'My Card' program that issued 805 physical cards for TK–5 students this spring.
Daniel told trustees the library has expanded academic support across branches. Reading Buddies operates at all three locations, focused on 3rd–5th graders with 30-minute sessions; staff support 20–25 students per session and maintain a wait list. "We have volunteers at all three locations, and they're facilitating 30-minute sessions with each student," he said.
Math Club runs as a 10-week program with about 24 students per session and an independently contracted tutor booked by the library. Staff described volunteer recruitment from an established list and supplemental outreach via the library newsletter. Daniel said the library deliberately limits formal, library-owned performance metrics for individual students so as not to constrain program scale; teachers and parents provide anecdotal feedback and classroom progress reporting.
For teens, the library offers drop-in homework help, a weekly teacher-supported session and free after-school snacks Monday through Friday. The library uses Brainfuse for online student resources, providing live tutoring, homework help and resume assistance. Daniel noted the library is exploring one-on-one college-essay or application help in coordination with local partners.
The 'My Card' program, coordinated with the county, provides digital cards (emailed to students) and physical cards where needed; staff created 805 physical cards for TK–5 this spring. Daniel said the program streamlines classroom access to digital resources by letting students use their student ID numbers as library cards.
Trustees asked how students are identified for programs; staff said many are referred by teachers or identified through school partnerships. No board action was taken; staff will continue to coordinate with schools and partners to scale programming.
