SoNo Library Offering Free School Support

NORWALK, Conn. — SoNo Branch Library, located at 10 Washington St., recently began offering Scholar Support on Saturdays and Sundays for students ages 10–18.

Anyone interested must sign up for this free program, which offers four one-hour slots per day on Saturday and Sunday. 

Scholar Support is being offered in the areas of homework, writing, and research assistance for students ages 10-18; career path consultations for ages 16-18; and technical skills support for ages 14-18. 

“If you are looking for support with homework, writing, or research, the Scholar Support team is here to help,” said reference librarian Erik Henderson, who is providing the Scholar Support. 

“Our staff brings years of experience in librarianship and is eager to share their expertise with the community. We also recognize the growing need for technical skills in today’s world, so we have included tech support as part of the program,” he added. 

“For young people preparing for the next chapter—whether that is college, vocational training, or entering the workforce—we offer career path consultations to serve as an objective, supportive resource in helping them find the path that best suits them. Our team is made up of diverse librarians with a wide range of professional and lived experiences,” continued Henderson.  

At the end of the day, “Scholar Support is our way of giving back to the community by offering personalized, knowledgeable guidance to help individuals thrive,” explained Henderson. 

The idea for Scholar Support originated with a former staff member from the SoNo library who grew up in the area, according to Henderson. 

“While he is no longer with the library, he was passionate about giving back to the community and envisioned a local tutoring service. In collaboration with our library branch manager, we met over the summer to develop the concept—discussing age groups, services, and how we could tailor the program to meet a variety of needs,” said Henderson.

“We decided that the beginning of the school year would be an ideal time for a soft launch, allowing us to gauge community interest and adjust our offerings as needed. While we have not seen a large number of residents actively seeking this type of support, our goal is to make Scholar Support a trusted and accessible resource for anyone who needs academic or career-related assistance,” Henderson explained. 

SoNo Branch Manager Marcus Eason stated, “Everyone who works in the library understands the challenges of schoolwork, navigating research projects, or planning a career path after graduation. Our goal is to provide guidance and support every step of the way.”

Eason and SoNo staff also want parents to know they’re here to help. 

“For parents, we recognize how difficult it can be to assist your children with these important areas of life,” said Eason. “Please know you are not alone—we are here to help. The library team is committed to sharing resources, offering guidance, and supporting families in ways that we wish had been available to us during our own journeys.”

Eason stressed that Scholar Support is “about more than just academics; it’s about building a community where we support one another. The South Norwalk Library is here for you.”

The program kicked off the weekend of Saturday, Sept. 13, 

“… [W]e had our first patron take part, which is a very encouraging sign, and we anticipate even greater participation moving forward,” said Eason. 

Scholar Support has so far been well received by residents, Eason added. 

“We have been receiving positive feedback from the Norwalk community, as this type of program was designed with their needs in mind,” said Eason. 

To sign up for Scholar Support, call the library at 203-899-2790 or visit https://www.norwalklib.org/104/SoNo. If sessions are full, you will be placed on a waiting list.