Library Preps Students for College

The Burton Barr Central Library is taking higher education seriously, so seriously that Phoenix opened a college center to help high school students and their families navigate the application process.

On the second floor, bilingual college counselors will staff College Depot and advise students as they fill out financial aid forms and take entrance exams, reports azcentral.com. Many Phoenix students don't know that they could move on to higher education because no one mentored them, said Judy Reno, the director of the depot.

The 2,400-square-foot center includes worshop space, offices for one-on-one assistance and 25 computers. A grant covered $500,000 for construction while private partners donated more than $1 million to take care of three years of operating costs.

"Today, the city of Phoenix is saying that education is important, that high school should not be the end of education," Councilman Mike Nowakowski said. "We are telling people that we need to have a college education."

For the complete story, visit azcentral.com.