SDSL's Cornerstone Newsletter
South Dakota State Library's e-newsletter
Lennox Community Library Coding Club
The start of the 2022 school year also brought an exciting new program to the Lennox Community Library – Coding Club. Third through sixth grade students are invited to join the club that meets one day per week in the library. Coding Club works on developing coding skills in fun and creative ways.
“We wanted something new for the kids to try,” shared Audrea Buller, Lennox Community Library Director. “This has been a great success. The kids that have participated tell their friends, and then their friends want to come and give it a try.”
Megan Lefers, Lennox Community Library’s Assistant Programming Librarian, has been leading the Coding Club. Lefers stated, “The most popular activities [at Coding Club] are coding different characters to move and talk and playing the games that go along with the lessons.”
In many ways, the Coding Club has been a learning opportunity for both the participants and the librarians. “Learning the teaching materials was [the biggest challenge], because I did not know most of the materials,” said Lefers. “I only knew what I had learned in computer class in school.”
Though there can be a bit of a learning curve, Lefers encouraged other librarians to start their own coding club. “I would tell librarians to start a coding club because the students will benefit from learning how to code on computers now and later in their lives,” she stated. “The students could use what they learn in the coding club in a job one day, for example.”
The Lennox Community Library Coding Club has exciting plans for the new year. Buller shared that the Coding Club received a donation from a teacher of Lego robotics that they hope to experiment with at Coding Club and in the library.
According to Kathleen Slocum, the South Dakota State Library's Continuing Education Coordinator, "The South Dakota State Library wants to bring computer science opportunities to elementary, middle, and high school children across South Dakota. Currently we have 16 [coding clubs] that are either public and or school library hosted. We would love for your library to host a club!"
Public and school librarians who are interested in starting a coding club can contact Kathleen Slocum at Kathleen.slocum@state.sd.us for more details.
About SDSL
The South Dakota State Library provides leadership for innovation and excellence in libraries and services to state government.
The SDSL does not endorse any service or product listed in this newsletter.
