Carson City Library summer enrichment programs bridge opportunity gap for local youth

Between June 7 and August 4 the Carson City Library engaged a record breaking 2,750 youth, ages 6 – 17, in signups for the 2013 summer reading program and attendance in summer learning activities. In that time, more than 21,788 items circulated from the library’s youth collection, primarily traditional books but also e-readers like Kindles, iPads, PlayAways and PlayAway Views.

Showcased at the library Thursday, families, community educators and leaders from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada were among specially invited guests joining Carson City library youth patrons, librarians and library mentors in sharing their summer science, technology, engineering, art and math projects.

“The summer learning participation this year between our patrons at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada and those who came to the main branch on Roop Street broke all previous records,” said youth librarian Amber Sady. “1,289 signed up to read pages for prizes and 1,461 showed up for robust and tech-rich summer learning programs.”

According to the National Summer Learning Association a body of research has documented that summer learning programs can be effective in improving student achievement and stem the loss of learning typical during the three month break. Activities to supplement academic content attract students to attend voluntary programs regularly.

This also helps bridge the “opportunity gap” between low-income and higher-income students during the summer. A recent study in a series of five reports sponsored by the Wallace Foundation offers lessons learned about strengthening out of school time programs. More information and access to the research can be found at www.wallacefoundation.org .

Full S.T.E.A.M (science, technology, engineering, arts and math)
Carson City librarians have been full S.T.E.A.M ahead with enrichment activities to promote knowledge and build skills that work with formal lessons learned in school. The library’s automated, robot-driven, library-in-a-box machine at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada (the Branch Anywhere containing more than library 200 items) tells some of the story, as does the range of technology tools available for digital media making in the library’s @Two Digital Learning Center.

With help from mentors like David Allen, a song-writer and music producer from Reno’s Solstice Recording, who has worked with library staff to onboard entry-level digital audio recording work stations in the @Two space, professionals guide development of marketable skills.

“These tools will allow kids access to what anyone would need to express themselves through music. We can guide their development and help build fundamental skills on the technical, as well as the artistic side. We have begun conversations with teachers at Carson High School to extend our reach, especially since music is typically the first classes to be cut in lean times. This is so cool that the library is making a place for music,” said Allen.

The summer learning enrichment line up was developed to build a range of skills that are critical to both academics but also to success in work and life.

“One of my favorite pictures of our summer programs was captured at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada. It shows a Club member using an iPad to take video of a lecture underway in the Club homework room. Smithsonian-quality artifacts from the personal collection of Patti DeBunch of EETZA Research Associates were displayed at the Club, and DeBunch shared stories about her global adventures with more than 30 club members. The Club’s 7-year old member was digitally capturing footage using an iPad because he was making a documentary as a part of the library program at the Club – that’s awesome,” said interim library director Tammy Westergard.

Summer learning programs were designed to appeal to various levels of rigor. Saturday morning Lego club is an easy going activity popular with dads and kids. “Lego projects can run the range of complexity. We build basic houses and cars, but I’ve also seen projects that I’m certain are prototypes of future innovations,” said Sady. And the Love on a Leash program creates opportunities for young ones to read to “easily pleased” audiences with four legs, she laughed.

The library’s @Two Digital Learning Center summer youth programs all had a digital connection. For example, artist clinics that primarily focused on principles of drawing, color and sculpture culminated with a packaging seminar at the library. Participants developed artist statements, took each other’s head shots using a smart phone and with a basic app created promotional fliers about themselves. “The process helps youth understand what it takes to present art in a more formal setting, like a school art show for example,” said Westergard.

“I drew a picture at the Boys & Girls Club of different fruits as an art class. I used the color purple the most on the grapes because I think the color purple is soothing and it is also my favorite color.  My goal in the drawing is to let people know that when I use different colors and textures, I feel like it’s real,” said 11 year-old Carson Middle School sixth grader, Dylan Hickman in his artist statement. The art clinics were conducted by Julianne Perkins the library’s artist in summer residence.

The library’s technology trainer, Sena Loyd, worked with several groups of teens who engaged with video journalists from C-SPAN during an early July workshop and developed their newsworthy stories into 4 to 6 minute documentaries. Topics include hard hitting issues like the draft, teen pregnancy and gay marriage.

“It was such a privilege for me to work with these teens and see them engaged about their passions. The process of storytelling requires critical thinking. They understood that and took it all very seriously,” said Loyd.

Additionally Loyd led production of video games using software called Agent Sheets. “Building a game is tough. It forces very detailed thinking about process. These exercises train the thinking of engineers and scientists for sure,” she said.

“It was an incredible package. Summer reading “pages for prizes” netted four book-worms new iPads sponsored by the Friends of the Library drawn from earned grand-prize tickets. Kids were learning with all of their senses and from both sides of their brains. The programs using digital tools to communicate important messages, are a competency of the 21st century. This was great summer of learning and fun,” said Sady.

Out of School Time During the School Year
The Carson City Library is looking forward to working with youth and teachers during the school year to reinforce habits of mind, the common core standards and link between school-based curriculum to the rest of the student’s world. Titled “Young Brains on Summer” examples of the digital media projects are on the library’s YouTube channel below. All interested teachers and families are encouraged to contact the library about classes and programs.

For more information visit www.carsoncitylibrary.org or call (775) 887-2244.

— Writer Tammy Westergard is the Interim Director of the Carson City Library.