LatchKey Children
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In recent years, a confluence of social, economic and political factors has led to the emergence of increasing numbers of unattended or latchkey children who are not provided with the necessary educational assistance during the after-school hours. These factors include: the disintegration of traditional households characterized by single parents or two working parents; the rise in the number of immigrant households where English is the second language; as well as the loss of funding for school libraries and after-school programs (Bailey, 1999). In the absence of sufficient after-school educational support, homework centers in public libraries, which are run by youth librarians, have become an increasingly popular solution (Bailey, 1999; Mediavilla, 2001, 2003; Wigg, 1995). The significance of the role played by homework centers in the public libraries and the functions they performed is highlighted by the reports published by various institutions. According to the 1992 report published by the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development, young people are most likely to succumb to peer pressure and engage in delinquent activities during the three hours after school. One of the recommendations proposed by the Council was to have young people participate in after-school programs, with the guidance of adult community leaders including librarians. More than just a deterrent against negative peer pressure, after-school programs were also found to be beneficial b
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r libraries that have a community room or a conference area, this space could be especially reserved for the children within the specified time period - typically, the critical after-school hours between three and six in the afternoon. Within this enclosed space, students may even be able to interact with one another and have an afternoon snack, without disturbing other library users. A good example of a self-enclosed area can be found at the Beaufort County Library in South Carolina. At this library, students are able to have access to computers and the reference books in a quiet and peaceful area - the basement (Mediavilla, 2003).
However, libraries that do not have these enclosed spaces can utilize the children's or young adult section as a homework center. During the specific hours, the libraries can shift the furniture and hang up signs to designate the sections as homework centers (Mediavilla, 2003).
Finally, it is also important to note that libraries that cater to high school students who require homework assistance may need to schedule a different homework time for these students. Since many have after-school jobs or engage in other extra-curricular activities, evening homework sessions should also be considere
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Approximate Word count = 4550
Approximate Pages = 18 (250 words per page)
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