Library receives $3,000 grant to expand children’s program

A children’s program at the Lethbridge Public Library will be able to continue and expand due to a $3,000 grant.

The library recently announced that they are to receive a Community Action Team Grant of $3,000 from Telus for Mini Tech-Heads, a children’s program.

“We’re excited to receive these funds from Telus as Mini Tech-Heads has been a big hit with the children,” said Trina Orchard, Children’s Services assistant who facilitates the program, in a press release.

“Regardless of where one heads in life, being able to analyze technology and draw meaningful information from it is an invaluable skill in our increasingly complex world. Designed on a rotating schedule, Mini TechHeads offers children in Grades 4 to 6 the opportunity to delve into the tech that is ever so present in our daily lives. Each six-week session focuses on a specific topic.”

The funds from the Telus grant will also allow the library to purchase tech-related program supplies.

“This funding will enable us to run a six-week robotics session (and then some), and a sixweek 3D printing session,” said Orchard. “It also leaves some money behind to buy circuitry supplies so that a six-week circuit city session can be done.”

The next Mini Tech-Heads session will be in January and will likely focus on robotics, tentatively followed by sessions on circuitry or 3D printing. Other topics could include game design and programming.

“The goal of this program is twofold. Initially, it is to work with kids who are technologically inclined and give them the knowledge that they need to take their interests to the next level,” Orchard said.

“But beyond that, the goal is to teach participants the principles that underlie technology and allow them to analyze it and draw conclusions. The hope is that they will then be able to utilize, troubleshoot, improve, or reject technology based on sound logic. We would love to see more programs like this offered, continuing and expanding on further knowledge in the areas covered in the Mini Tech-Heads program.”