On
Tuesday July 23, the Windham Public Library hosted their weekly, summer, STEM
program, Lab Coat Adventures, for kids aged two to eight. This week’s activity
involved youngsters building rockets which were launched, propelled by air
pressure, upwards of 100 feet in the air!
The
program, a brainchild of Diana Currier, the library’s Children’s Room
Coordinator, results from attending workshops with other librarians. Currier
stated, “We wanted a program that would attract kids. Every kid wants to put on
a lab coat. Recently we had a ‘Technology Take-Apart’ for which we provided
things such as keyboards, external hard drives, and computer motherboards and
had the kids take them apart.”
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Sam
Cote, the Children’s Librarian stated, “We typically have 20 kids attending the
program, each Tuesday. We’ve done interesting things such as ‘Filter for Mars’
for which the kids were
provided supplies to build a water filter in the event they were to come across
water on Mars.”
Cote shared examples of upcoming Lab Coat
Adventures activities including, “Building hurricane houses (houses that can
withstand the driving wind and water resulting from a hurricane). We’ll again
be doing the watermelon explosion this year, in which the kids see how many
rubber bands can be placed around a watermelon before it explodes. Last year’s
total was 403!”
In addition to the mind-stimulating,
kid-focused, Lab Coat Adventures, the library offers many other programs and
activities - for all ages. Cote shared, “On Monday we are having a bubble party
for families. On Wednesdays we have a reader’s theater, in which participants
read from a picture book and then act out the part. Also, on our calendar, are
things such as a snow cone party, a visit from a marine biologist, gentle flow
yoga and a chess club, to name a few more. We have something for everyone.”
Ray Marcotte, the library’s
Reference/Technology Librarian shared more activities and resources that would
entice people of all ages to visit the library.
Marcotte emphasized, “We have a summer
reading program for adults, with the theme ‘A Universe of Stories’ in
conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. The program includes
visiting authors and topics including: Astronomy 101, how climate change
affects the Maine lobster industry, and a discussion sharing stories about wild
coincidences, ESP, and other paranormal events.”
Further, Marcotte shared that the library
will have a professional-level, high-powered telescope that can be checked out
for up to one week, for stargazing from your own home. “All you need is a
library card. This is a great teaching tool and fun to use with your children.”
Marcotte stressed that while they have
many programs and activities, all of which are outlined on the library’s
website, there are many other resources available to those with a library card.
This includes: thousands of books (including all the current best sellers),
current versions of popular magazines, DVDs and Audiobooks. We also offer
downloadable audiobooks and eBooks via the CloudLibrary.
It doesn’t end there, “For those who
don’t have computers, we have eight for adults and four for teens, each in
their own area along with a printer,” Marcotte said. “The most under-utilized,
best kept secret is that we provide card-holders access (in library and remote)
to numerous databases to perform research. An example includes Chilton’s
Automotive Repair Manuals.”
For those who just acquired, or need help
operating, a new smartphone, tablet, laptop or even downloading photos, the
library offers Tech help, on a drop-in basis.
Finally, holders of a Windham Public
Library Card have access to materials from approximately seventy other
libraries (from universities and public libraries) across the state. A key tool
to support this is the online catalog search, prominently available on the
library’s website. As Marcotte states, “If we don’t have it, we can get it - at
no cost.”
To learn more and/or access the vast
resources of the Windham Public Library, visit online at www.windham.lib.me.us/, in person at 217 Windham Center Road or call
207-892-1908. There truly is something for everyone at the Windham Public
Library.
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