“This project just spoke to people” says Rebecca Stavick, the executive director of Do Space, opens a new window. Now that the renovation of the old bookstore at 72nd & Dodge is complete, and the new digital library has been up and running for a few months, it’s clear to see what she means. This realized vision of Sue Morris, president of Heritage Services, and former Omaha Public Library, opens a new window director, Gary Wasdin, is truly remarkable. A high end computer lab fills the lower level, along with a teen room, littles lab, meeting rooms, and a 3D printing lab. “There’s $3 million of tech just on this floor” Stavick exclaimed.
Do Space has a myriad of possibilities available to make learning digital literacy fun for all ages, and Omaha Public Library, opens a new window is proud to partner with them for our monthly Out and About Storytime, opens a new window series. Youth Services Librarian Paige Wagner led the storytime in March, which focused on robots! Upwards of 20 children plopped down on the lime green bean bags in the Littles Lab to hear Mrs. Paige read books with silly voices. It’s a beautiful bridging of worlds to bring technology and literature together, and the kids were fascinated by it!
The large computer screen in the room is the perfect height for tiny humans to learn to swipe, scroll and tap. Mrs. Paige showed them how to create a song by dragging monsters to different squares on the grid. The higher they placed the monster, the higher the note it sang. The kids worked together to compose a funky, little song that had the whole room giggling and dancing about!
Omaha Public Library, opens a new window is ecstatic to be on the forefront of reaching Omaha’s next generation with digital literacy. Today, kids have so many opportunities to learn coding, robotics, web design and more, all in age appropriate ways. To further the spread of technology education in Omaha, Nebraska Science Festival, opens a new window will be taking place in April. OPL will host over a dozen activities ranging from slime creation to techy lock-ins! See our calendar, opens a new window for a full list of events!
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