Helena Intermediate School plans to improve student&8217;s access to materials in its library. In order to do so, donations from the state and the Parent Teacher Organization will provide new audio books for students&8217; use.

Tami Genry, media specialist for the library, said students must have a variety of tools to learn from.

&8220;Research has proven that when students have the written texts and hear it, they comprehend the material better,&8221; Genry said. &8220;In my own research, I&8217;ve found that listening comprehension also is a good testament to how well a child will do at the high school level.&8221;

The materials will be purchased with a $2,500 grant from the Alabama State Legislature and $6,000 raised by the PTO from the school&8217;s Fall Festival.

State Representative Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, made the grant announcement as part of his district listening tour with the faculty and staff of Helena Intermediate.

&8220;We must always be prepared to have as many learning resources available to the students as possible,&8221; said Ward.

Genry had met with Representative Ward and discussed the recent efforts faculty and PTO members were making in improving access to materials on compact disk. &8220;Listening comprehension is a skill they really need to develop into good students,&8221; Genry said. &8220;In this day and age we don&8217;t really work on our listening skills. They are hit with plenty of optical info and have lost some of those listening and reading skills.&8221;

The money will not only provide books on CD, but will also provide CD players for children to check out as well.