Library expands its scope

Silicon Valley is sending some of their tech to the Sylvan Lake Municipal Library.

The library has received two grants, one from the Sylvan Lake Community Endowment fund for $3378.77 and one from Telus, that will allow them to purchase a new Technology,Exploration and Learning lab.

The unique part about this lab is that is doesn’t require a physical computer lab to effectively run programming according to Library Director Caroline Vandriel.

The lab, according to Vandriel, is “basically getting as many lap top computers as we can, that we can move anywhere in the library, so that that we can run programs when all of the other computers are being utilized.”

The computers are being outfitted with important programs like Microsoft Office, photo-editing software and Minecraft. This boost of software allows Vandriel and her staff to expand its in-library programming.

“What I have used the previous lab that we borrowed from Parkland in the past was resume-writing workshops,” he said, while adding that her other staff has run very popular programs for pre-teens and teenagers with the program Minecraft.

The portability of this lab also allows the library staff to perform some community outreach – especially at the seniors centre across the road.

“We go to the senior centre fairly regularly and do iPad instruction and sometimes with their phones as well,” she said. “If we had a lab that we can take along there, it would take us beyond just the library.

“We can look at programming a whole different way.

The lap-tops are purchased through Parkland Regional Libraries, which allows the Sylvan Lake Library to receive discounts on the hardware, as well as having the necessary software preloaded onto the devices.

Luckily for Sylvan Lakers, these devices will be available for lending at anytime, rather then just being for special programs.

Vandriel said “when all of our public computers are in use or when someone wants to work on something more private like resumes, bills and responding to personal emails,” these devices will be available.

She added that the library is “incredibly thankful for the funding we have received” and that “we are really looking forward to doing some exploring ourselves.

reporter@sylvanlakenews.com