If you spend any time in a library, then you are aware of the vast learning materials that are available to you there. The library provides the community with books, teachers, computers, and other technology which develop and push our communities forward. For Christine Candelaria, a local homeschooling Mom and SCPL patron, the library has been a part of her children's educational development and the library continues to provide them with the resources they need to excel in the future.
"When my kids were babies and toddlers, a lot of our weekly activities revolved around the library, from perusing books in a cozy corner of the children’s section to circle times filled with songs and stories enjoyed from the comfort of my lap. Fast forward to today, and I do mean fast, as in where did the time go and how do I suddenly have tweens and teens?
Storytime may be a thing of the past for us, but I’m happy to report our library visits are still full STEAM ahead—these days you’ll find my kids participating in programs that offer fun experiences in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics. Checking out arms full of books hasn’t changed, but now a trip to the library might include programming robots, building Lego catapults, coding in different computer languages, and designing projects in a designated maker space with STEAM-rich materials provided.
Whether they know it or not, my kids are learning necessary technical skills while engaging in creativity, problem solving, and teamwork. The benefits of a library that adapts to our fast-paced, high-tech world are many, not least of all growing up with the next generation of library lovers."
