Lego robotics kits available

CANASTOTA, N.Y. » Thanks to an Educational Partnership between the Department of the Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, NY (AFRL) and the Canastota Public Library, LEGO EV3 robotics kits can be used at the Canastota Public Library as well as throughout the MidYork Library System by libraries for STEM programming efforts.

The five year agreement between the library and the AFRL recognizes the importance of science and technology education to our future. Projects, coordinated by Beth Totten of the Canastota Library and Ralph Kohler of the AFRL, will be used to nurture math and science skills to offer students a foundation for exploring related academic and employment options later in life.

This summer, Robotics camps were offered at both the Canastota Public Library (June) and the Oneida Public Library (August). This fall, the librarians at various MidYork locations will learn how Canastota has successfully utilized these kits in their programming efforts for the past several years. These libraries will then be able to borrow kits to use in programming through this partnership agreement.

Since receiving additional kits, the Canastota Public Library will be offering two programs this fall. Home-schooled students ages 9 – 14 can sign up to attend a five week program. These sessions will be held on Tuesday mornings at the library from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Students will learn to use sensors, to program and build different types of robots. Additionally, there will be anAfter School Drop In session offered in October onWednes-

days. Students (ages 9 – 14) may come to the library to build and program robots. Students must attend each week as the activities build on the previous week’swork.

Space for both of these programs is limited so students must sign up at the library to attend either of these sessions. The Canastota Public Library is located at 102. W. Center Street in Canastota. The library has been providing services to the community since 1896.