FUN WITH FICTION JUST ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THE LIBRARY

THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM THE PRINTED VERSION.

Check out the library, says Tommy Watkins.It's a really neat place where fantasy, fiction, history and the future are right at your fingertips.When Tommy isn't at Thomas or Hageman public libraries - just for fun - he's volunteering his time at Hageman Public Library.

"I love to read, I love being there with all the books," he says.

"I really never know what I'm going to the library for. I go down there for one thing and I find all these other things to read about."

Tommy, who enters ninth grade at Chesterton High School this year, reads three to five books each week and uses the library for school work as well.

"There are lots of reference books and the people who work there are always willing to help you with any questions that you have," says the 14-year-old.

"Using the library/media center to obtain information for a report, project, whatever, is almost like going on a treasure hunt," says media specialist Linda Mapes at Liberty Middle School.

She suggests the "five-finger test" to determine if the book is within the student's reading and comprehension capabilities.

Choose any page from the book, and raise a finger for every word the child does not understand.

"If it is five or if you have reached five before the end of the page, it would be better to choose another book.

"It is too hard for now," she advises.

"Once you have found a book that looks interesting, take a few minutes before you check it out to be sure it is the one that will be right for you," she adds.

"The crucial job of ours is to teach kids how to critically analyze what they are reading," says media specialist Mara Becking at Chesterton High School.

The Internet has broadened the opportunities for student research. But the job goes beyond discovery.

"I tell kids it's not enough that they found it on the Internet; they need to know where it is, who is saying that, if they can verify the facts and if the information is up-to-date," Becking says.

"But just as computers have not made this a paperless society, I don't think the Internet is going to do away totally with our more traditional forms of media like books, magazines, newspapers and things like that.

"I think Internet will be a compliment, another way to access information." THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM THE PRINTED VERSION.