A month past his 16th birthday, Adi Patel has 1) his driver’s license, 2) his high school diploma and 3) two associate degrees from Lenoir Community College. After just two
Beyond the books
Neuse Regional Library
The Neuse Regional Libraries have taken active steps to collaborate with students, parents, teachers, principals and the Kinston Housing Authority to explore better ways to engage students in learning during these trying times. The Library established Homework Help programs throughout Lenoir, Jones and Greene counties to provide students and parents additional resources, one-on-one tutoring, and access to Wi-Fi to help support learning.
Despite initial success, once popular programs like Homework Help and STEM 4 All experienced a sharp decline in attendance in the new year, leaving staff members pondering: what happened? As we dove deeper into the issues of low attendance and had honest conversations with local organizations and schools, we discovered the lack of student engagement was not unique to Homework Help and the STEM 4 ALL program, but far reaching and widespread. It seemed as if students had checked out of learning, a
Celebrating Black History Month at the Library
Chanda Platania
Neuse Regional Library
This month is Black History Month and Neuse Regional Libraries are taking this opportunity to celebrate the many chapters of black history that are directly connected to Kinston and the Neuse Region. Just last week we had a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Green Book locations in Kinston and other efforts to increase historic preservation of important black history sites in Kinston and the region.
On Tuesday, February 9 at 6:30 p.m., community members gathered in the Schechter Auditorium of the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library and via Zoom to learn about the Green Book Project and its connections to Kinston. The program, led by Angela Thorpe, director of the North Carolina African American Heritage Commision, covered the last three years of research by the Commission with a focus on the sites that were located right here in Kinston.
Beyond the Books
Neuse Regional Library
Fresh from ringing in the new year, it is time to get back into familiar routines. For most, that means going back to work or back to school, which continues to look a little different thanks to COVID-19. In 2020, we began our Homework Help program through the Literacy without Barriers program, supported by federal funds awarded and administered by the State Library of North Carolina. Unfortunately, due to the current severity of COVID-19 we have had to briefly pause in-person homework help, but we are continuing to support the learners of our community through Family Literacy Kits, another component of the Literacy Without Barriers Program.