TPL tutorial program earns two-fold benefits

When the sky opens and the rain falls, the best place to be is at home snug and warm.

The next best place to be is nestled in at the library with a good book.

On Monday afternoon, there was a lot of nestling at the Troy Public Library.

Young patrons were busy giving a voice to puppets at the library’s puppet theater or hugs to the new plush horse donated by Wells Fargo or just browsing for a book to read. However, most of the busyness was the working of young minds in the library’s 10-year and counting tutoring program. Downstairs and upstairs, volunteer tutors from Troy University were working with students of all ages in an effort to help them improve their understanding of specific subject matter and, therefore, their grades in school.

“Right now, we have close to 100 volunteer tutors who work with students on different days and at different times,” said Teresa Colvin, children’s librarian. “Most of our university tutors are education majors but we also have bio-medical majors, history and math majors. We have sorority members who tutor and we also have members of the soccer team tutoring this semester. They all want to have experience working one-on-one with students. Tutoring gives them experience working with young people and it also helps make them more rounded individuals.”

Colvin said the students tutor in many different areas from elementary reading to calculus.

“We have a tutor for whatever the needs are,” she said. “We have very dedicated tutors and eager and willing learners.”

Colvin said that progress reports have gone out and many of the students have made major improvements since enrolling in the Troy Public Library tutorial program.

“We are extremely proud of the success of the tutorial program and it is due to the dedication and commitment of the tutors and the working relationships they build with their students,” she said. “We have seen an increase in the Exit exam rates for those who participate in the program. Most of the tutors volunteer many more hours than is required by their classes. The rewards in seeing a young person’s grades improve and their confidence grow are great.”