Grades Grow Tutors

With information being so easy to find and access via the internet these days, it seems that the good old school library is quickly becoming a neglected place. If anything, school libraries have mainly become a place for students to go to check their e-mail or do internet research during school time. I’m here to tell you, the school library is not a place you want to forget about, if you want to get great grades! Here are a few things that the library has to offer students, even in the internet age.

Expert Help Available
Librarians aren’t just sitting behind their desks to tell you when to be quiet. Librarians are a great source of knowledge, especially when it comes to researching subjects efficiently. Sure, search engines do a good job of providing you instant sources for research papers or other projects, but librarians can help you diversify your sources and find you information you otherwise never would have found. Not only that, but librarians can provide homework help by guiding you through vast newspaper, magazine, and journal indexes as well. Most school libraries have a wealth of information available, the librarian is like the roadmap that will help you find the information you need.

Sometimes the Internet Isn’t the Best Source
Believe it or not, not everything can be found on the internet. Almost everything, but not quite! All jokes aside, your school library is bound to have resources that you simply can’t find from your home PC. Scholarly journals, newspaper archives on microfiche, and a variety of DVD-ROMs will likely cover the gaps missing in your internet-exclusive research. Many teachers and professors have soured on the idea of students only doing research on the internet, and require a mix of sources for papers and projects. Also, while much of the information on the internet is from reputable sources and is accurate, there is still a lot of information that isn’t. Citing a rant from someone’s blog as a source for your research paper isn’t going to make your teacher (or English tutor) very happy.

There’s No Better Place to Study!
The library is not just a place to find the information you need, but also a great place to actually get your work done. The quiet and relaxed environment you’re likely to find in your school library is a great place to meet with other students, your tutor, or even to get work done on your own. At home, in study hall, or in a dorm room it can be hard to find the kind of environment you need to concentrate properly. Not only will the library provide a great place to study, but it’s a convenient location because all of the resources you require are right there, should you need them. You can even meet with your online tutor from one of your library’s computers!

I would be the last person who would ever deny the internet’s wonderful impact on education. However, it’s important to remember that there are other places students can go to get assistance, get work done, or study. I firmly believe that along with tutoring, good study skills, and assistance from teachers, school libraries are absolutely essential for school success.