The introduction to a 4-week class on developing and offering computer coding programs at libraries.

1. WWW.JENNIFERKOERBER.COM
PROJECT
DATE CONTACT
APRIL 22, 2016
CODING AS A PRACTICAL LIBRARY PROGRAM
JENNIFER KOERBER

2. Today's Agenda
Why?
Pre-Planning
Planning
Resources
Measuring
Implementing
Keeping Up

3. Case Studies
Code Louisville - Louisville (KY) Free Public Library
Teen (Tech)Knowledgey Camp - Grand Rapids (MI)
Public Library
Codebreakers - Arlington Heights (IL) Public Library
unBound - Meridian (ID) Library District

4. MY GOAL:
SHOW YOU POSSIBILITIES
https://monmouthshire.madeopen.co.uk/projects/
The-Ideas-Garage

5. Why Coding at Libraries?
Why Not?
It’s not much different than:
computer training
craft programs
cooking programs
DIY programs
mashable.com/2015/05/24/learning-code-jobs

6. What Kinds of Programs?
Age: Adults, Teens, Kids, Family/Multi-generational
Focus: Job skills, college prep, school help,
edutainment, fun!
Time: Afterschool, summer camp, school break;
late morning/early afternoon; weekends
Format: Classes, online learning, games &
activities, group/peer learning, support

7. How…at MY Library?
Know Your Community
Know Your Library
Know Your Goals

8. CODE LOUISVILLE - LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY
WWW.CODELOUISVILLE.ORG

9. PRE-PLANNING
KNOW THYSELF

10. Know Your Community
Needs
Ask local agencies & workplace investment/development boards:
What jobs aren’t being filled?
What skills do these folks need to have? Specific
languages/platforms?
What neighborhoods or communities are most in need?
Ask small business owners the same questions.
Survey patrons: What skills do they think they need?
What jobs would they apply for if they had the skills?

11. Know Your Community
Opportunities
Is someone already doing this training in your community?
Do they need space/computers? How can you partner?
Are there large companies/tech firms that need people?
Are they willing to do pre-hire training programs?
Are there local high schools/tech schools/colleges with
students who need or could provide training?
What are the local K-12 schools already doing to promote
STEAM/coding? How about local afterschool programs or
summer camps? Can you piggy-back on their efforts?

12. Know Your Library
Staff skills: Who can teach? Who can participate and then become
a teacher? Look at ALL of your staff for possible instructors.
Enthusiastic staff: They don’t have / don’t want the skills, but think
this is awesome and can be supportive allies for word of mouth &
staff buy-in.
Physical space: Where could you do this programming? Now or
with additional funds?
Technology: What do you already have to facilitate coding
programs? Older laptops are fine: basic coding doesn’t need more
than a text editor.
Marketing: How do you already promote programs? Will the
audiences you’re already reaching want this, or will you need to find
new ways of marketing to new audiences? What else could you try?

13. Know Your Goals
What do you want to achieve through this program?
Demystifying coding through fun
Pre-coding concepts
Coding basics
A finished product or portfolio
Job preparation
School support
How will you measure starting knowledge? Ending knowledge?
How will you measure outcomes?

14. TEEN (TECH)KNOWLEDGEY CAMP, GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY
WWW.GRPL.ORG/TEEN-TECHKNOWLEDGEY-CAMP/

15. PLANNING
THE NITTY GRITTY

16. What Kind of Program?
Demystifying Coding: Using non-technical or simple technical tools
to introduce the basic concepts of coding (e.g., DIY jewelry, early ed
games/toys, “unplugged” activities)
Coding Basics/Intermediate: In-person or online classes in HTML/
CSS, Javascript, Python, Ruby/Rails, website development/design,
CMS modules/customized themes, Excel macro development, app/
webkit development, something identified in surveys
“Fun” Coding: Game development, app development, Minecraft
coding, robots, toys & games
Meetups or Peer2Peer learning: Interested folks come together to
teach each other with some or no library facilitation

17. What Format?
Hands-on, standard computer class style
Online learning, with or without facilitation
Interactive Q&A or meetup style
Games & activities
Crafts and other non-tech projects
Unconferences or miniconferences?

18. What Audience?
Kids
Teens
Job-Seekers - older teens & adults
General interest adults
Family / Multi-generational

19. What Technology?
What do you need?
What do you already have?
What can you get donated or borrow?
Can you work in someone else’s space?

20. What’s Your Budget?
Costs
Technology
Space
Staff
Outside Instructors
Support materials (craft
supplies, paper, etc.)
Available Funds
Line item - programs,
technology, support
Friends/Foundation funds
Grants
Sponsors
Gifts / Trust funds

21. Who Are Your Instructors?
Staff
Volunteers
Community Partners
Paid Instructors
Online Resources

22. How Do You Market It?
What new marketing modes do you need to reach
new audiences?
Social media
Schools & camps
Job/career centers
Who can you partner with?
Who can be part of your word of mouth campaign?

23. What Challenges?
What challenges do you already see?
What alternatives do you have to canceling?
What back-up plans can you prepare now?
Who can pick up if you need to drop the ball?

24. CODEBREAKERS - ARLINGTON HEIGHTS MEMORIAL LIBRARY
WWW.AHML.INFO/CONTENT/BREAKERS-HTML-AND-CSS-CODING-CAMP

25. RESOURCES
FOR PLANNING, FOR DOING

26. Other Libraries
Denver Public Library
Learn to Code meetups, “Wordpress Happiness Hour” meetups,
Python workshop series, teen DevCamps
San Jose Public Library
Partnership with KidzKode.org
DoSpace, Omaha Public Library
Circulating Tech Activity Kits for all ages, extensive software
library, Littles Lab, Teen Hackers, adult classes
BoiseCodes, Boise Public Library
Circulating computer & robot kits, Hacker Hours meetup & code,
“Teach Your Preschooler Computer Science: A Workshop for
Parents,” “Bot Brunch” to introduce robot kits & learn basic code

27. BOOKS, ARTICLES, RESOURCE LISTS
“LIBRARY CODING BOOT CAMP,” “CODING FOR KIDS,” “CODING PROGRAMS AT LIBRARIES”

28. Online Resources
Lynda.com
Treehouse.com
Code.org (Hour of Code
and Beyond an Hour)
CodeAcademy.com
Tynker.com
edX.org & its partners

29. More Traditional Tools
Text Editors (Sublime Text, even Notepad)
Dreamweaver
myPHP & mySQL
Scratch, Scratch Jr.
JavaScript, Python, HTML/CSS
Arduino, Raspberry Pi

30. ROBOTS, GAMES & APPS
ROBOTS, GAME MAKERS, APP BUILDERS, MINECRAFT
WWW.VIRALISTAS.COM/DISFRACES-DE-HALLOWEEN-PARA-TODA-LA-FAMILIA/

31. GADGETS & TOYS
REMEMBER, NOT JUST FOR KIDS!

32. Unplugged Learning
Computer Programming Unplugged @ STEM In Libraries
steminlibraries.com/2015/03/14/week-two-computer-programming-
unplugged/
DIY Coding Jewelry @ Design Mom
www.designmom.com/2016/03/diy-coding-jewelry/
Code Crackers @ STEM in Libraries
steminlibraries.com/2015/10/21/code-crackers/
Conditionals with Cards @ code.org
code.org/files/ConditionalsHoC.pdf

33. ROOTZ ASYLUM AT DEFCON 2015 (LAS VEGAS, NV)
R00TZ.ORG/

34. MEASURING
WHAT & HOW

35. What to Measure?
Door / Seat Count
Participation / Completion Rates
Satisfaction Ratings
Testimonials
Job Acquisition / School Success Numbers

36. How to Measure It?
Surveys
Quizzes
Projects
Built-in Measures in Online Platforms/Software

37. IMPLEMENTING
READY… SET…
www.flickr.com/photos/grandcamel/2505377021

38. GO!!!!!
PHOTO

39. UNBOUND, MERIDIAN (ID) LIBRARY DISTRICT
MLDUNBOUND.ORG/

40. LEARNING
DEBRIEF AND DISCOVER
http://thedailyquotes.com/fail/

41. Questions to Ask After
What worked? What almost worked? What didn’t
work at all?
Where do you need more brains for brainstorming
solutions? More outside-the-library people?
What can you do again or expand on easily, to build
on your success?
What needs more work?
What did you learn about this kind of program?
About your library? About your community?

42. KEEPING UP
IDEAS FOR THE NEXT TIME
http://nathanmaxwell.net/2013/12/10-best-inspirational-
and-funny-signs-at-richmond-marathon-race-recap/

43. Employment & Training
State / local workplace development/investment
boards (WIB) - www.cwdb.ca.gov/local_boards.htm
Bureau of Labor Statistics / Occupational Outlook
Handbook - www.bls.gov/ooh
US Department of Labor - www.doleta.gov
www.Workforce3one.org - resource for WIBs
www.CareerOneStop.org
www.myskillsmyfuture.org
www.mynextmove.org
www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm

44. Employment & Training
Training Journal -
www.trainingjournal.com
Association for Talent
Development - www.td.org
Society for Human Resource
Management - www.shrm.org
National Human Resources
Association - humanresources.org

45. Online Resources
Library Resources
ALA TechSource
Library of the Future / ALA
Transforming Libraries
International, national, state,
and local library organizations
Professional journals
Library conferences
code4lib
LibTech
Computers in Libraries /
Internet Librarian
Mainstream News
The Atlantic
The Economist (Tech
Quarterly)
The Huffington Post
The New York Times
The Wall Street Journal
The Washington Post

46. Tech News
Gadgets & Reviews
C|NET
Engadget
Gizmag
Gizmodo
The Verge - Tech
Tech News
TechCrunch
ZDNet
ArsTechnica
Related Resources
Nonprofit Technology
Network (NTN)
Chronicle of Higher Ed
Kickstarter Technology
projects

47. Tech Conferences
Industry Conventions
CES (formerly The Consumer
Electronics Show)
Digital Entertainment World (DEW)
E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo
Game Developers Conference (GDC)
Mobile World Congress
Nonprofit Technology Conference
(NTC)
SXSW Interactive
TecHomeX
Developer & Release Events
Apple Worldwide Developers
Conference (WWDC)
Google I/O
Microsoft’s Tech Ed
Microsoft Build
Technology Conferences
Defcon (security)
Interop (general IT)
LISA (sysadmin)
NANOG (networks)
Velocity (web optimization)

48. WWW.JENNIFERKOERBER.COM
THANK YOU & GOOD LUCK!
JENNIFER KOERBER
JENNIFER.KOERBER@GMAIL.COM