ideaLab: Making a Space

We are planning on having a makerspace open here at Largo Public Library in the beginning of December. It's called the ideaLab. Makerspaces are becoming more popular in libraries, but popularity in the profession is not reason enough to run out and buy a 3D printer. When we started thinking about a makerspace, we also thought about whether it would work in our community and what our patrons actually want.

First though, what's a makerspace? A makerpace is a place that allows people to come in and try new technologies, experiment, and...well...make things. Some spaces have things like 3D printers, sewing machines, vinyl cutters, tablets, power tools, art supplies, music studios and more. We had to decide what we were going to focus on, so that we didn't end up having a scattered approach that pleases no one.

We want to offer visitors here a chance to access things that they don't usually get to use. We also want to utilize the space that we have to work with wisely. Our space is upstairs in the reference area of the library so-- even if it were much bigger--power tools would not be an option. After a lot of research, we decided on a technology centered approach. we got a 3D printer: the FlashForge Creator PRO. We also got a Macbook pro, that we will use with the Adobe Creative Suite to give patrons an opportunity to do professional work on videos and photos.We have a LEGO Mindstorm kit to give people an introduction to robotics. We bought one Raspberry Pi, to try computer programming, If it looks like something that people are interested in, we can get more. Really, the idea is to ask patrons what they want and to adjust accordingly.

New Library marketing tool - radio!

Library staff are always thinking of new ways to reach the community to advertise library events and programs. Library Services Manager Jen Shaffer submitted two scripts to WMNF 88.5 radio station recently and they were both accepted. She accompanied me to the station on Friday so I could record our promotional blurbs. The first Public Service Announcement highlighted the library's request for Local History items:

"Largo Public Library is keeping the past alive as we celebrate the Library's 100 year anniversary and expand our online digitization project. Largo Public Library is located at 120 Central Park Drive, in Largo.

We are collecting vintage photos to scan and preserve in our Pinellas Memory database, as well as memorabilia from the Largo area to display at the Library."

This announcement can be heard on the following dates and times.


Monday 10/27  in the 5pm hour
Thursday 10/30in the 5pm hour
Saturday  11/1 in the 9am hour


 The second one advertises an exciting upcoming program:

"Largo Public Library will be hosting a Florida Humanities Council program, The Scent of Scandal: Inside the Wild World of Orchid Smuggling featuring author Craig Pittman on Thursday, November 6th at 6:30pm.

Largo Public Library is located at 120 Central Park Drive in Largo.

Attendees will be riveted as Pittman tells a story of black-market orchid sales, smugglers, and scientists.

It is one of the weirdest "weird Florida" stories ever, and it's all true. Space is limited."

This announcement will run on:

Saturday 11/1 in the 12pm hour
Saturday 11/1  in the 11pm hour
Wednesday 11/5 in the 8pm hour

Hour of Code: Anyone Can Learn

Kids and Computers! You think they know it all, right? Wrong. Kids may know a lot more than YOU about computers, tablets, and smartphones, but when it comes down to the nitty-gritty details of computer programming, they still have something to learn.


The idea for a kids' computer coding class was brought to the attention of Largo Public Library by a teen volunteer. The volunteer was inspired by a nationwide initiative to get teens, especially girls, interested in technology careers. The class was scheduled and promoted through in-house posters, fliers, and by word of mouth. In the class, the volunteer taught introductory computer programming through games like Angry Birds using Code.org, a national organization promoting digital literacy that is supported by Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and many others. The class was over-full with some children seated 2 to a computer. The kids were excited to learn something new and to be taught by a teenager. Each child enjoyed the class, requested more and were rewarded with a certificate of completion once they finished their hour of coding. This first successful endeavor will likely lead to more partnerships and kids' computer classes in the future.

Chili Cook-Off

 

 

 The Largo Fire Department held it's annual Open House and Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, October 11th and I am excited to announce that the team from the library won two awards! Our theme was "Hunka Hunka Burning Chili" and not only did team members decorate the table with Elvis memorabilia we even had Elvis himself!

Members made 11 gallons of Chief's Choice award winning chili and raised the most money for the Golden Boot Award. The $522 raised by our team and other proceeds from the day benefit The Children's Burn Foundation of Florida.

 

 

Congratulations to all

LTAP and the Asana App

Library staff facilitated four community conversations in April and May and found there was an interest in having a community read to help create a feeling of inclusiveness, welcome people to the library and promote literacy.  The librarians were tasked with not only choosing a title, but working as a team to create four months of programming and promotion of the book.  The community read was dubbed, Largo Turns a Page (LTAP), to indicate not only the sentiment expressed in the conversations, but to kick off the library's centennial to be celebrated from 2015-2016.

Earlier in the year, the Greater Largo Library Foundation agreed to fund a program called, "Ipads for Innovation," to purchase Ipads for staff to improve technology skills, increase productivity and provide a means to create exciting programs and promote them effectively.  The librarians are using an app called, Asana, to facilitate planning, communicating and executing LTAP.  So far, they have created a time line, publicity, and communication about the plans for programs.

Here is an example of using Asana for a major initiative like LTAP:

Largo Women's Club

I attended a lovely luncheon meeting of the Largo Women's Club on Tuesday October 7th and spoke to the 30 members present about the shared history of the group with Largo Public Library. The group started out as the Ladies' Improvement Society in 1906 and reformed as the Largo Women's Club in 1914. This organization has a long history of philanthropic endeavors throughout the city and created the library in 1916 with the help of local citizens. As the library gears up to start the centennial celebrations in 1915 we are reaching out to other local organizations and residents for pictures, memorabilia and documents to enhance our Local History Collection. Please contact the library if you wish to donate any items or if you would like a staff member to speak to your group.

Hispanic Heritage Month -- Plan B

We are coming to the end of our Hispanic Heritage Month programs. We've had two CrAfterdark programs, a children's program that had over 100 attendees, and a special musical program from classical guitarist Ben Pila.

Ben was our performer for Courtyard Concert and Cuisine. Unfortunately, it rained that day. Luckily, we had a really great Plan B--we moved the concert into the 120 Gallery. We had several Latin dishes, and nonalcoholic sangria set up on long tables. Ben did a great job of explaining each musical selection before he played. He engaged not only the patrons that came specifically to hear him, but people who just happened to be in the library as well.

 It was really nice to have people come by and say how good the music was. One lady even said that she had been having a very bad day and then she came to the library and we turned it all around for her. That's where the innovation lies in this particular program: enriching the lives of our patrons in a way that is fresh and new to them. Courtyard, make that Gallery, Concert and Cuisine entertained and educated our patrons in a way that many were not expecting.