Carson High School freshman walk through Mills Park on their way to work in the Digitorium at the Carson City Library on Wednesday.
(CARSON CITY, NV) - Library Director Sena Loyd announces the grand (re) opening of the Carson City Library and its newly repurposed auditorium, now known as The Digitorium. Thursday, October 23, from noon to 7 p.m., the public is invited to explore reconfigured spaces at the library’s 900 North Roop Street main branch.
Demonstrations and informational discussions with librarians about new technology and expanded services make up the day’s events. Topics include e-books, homework help, computer classes, summer reading and more. Activities are planned on the half-hour throughout each library department. At 5:30 p.m. the Library Trustees will conduct a brief regular meeting, at 6:00 the grand (re) opening ribbon will be cut with special comments from Carson City Mayor, Bob Crowell.
“Business leaders have spoken, the workforce requires computer skills, software use and ability to use the Internet to find authoritative information - far beyond a flip “Google it!” approach. This is what is known as being information literate. The public library is an essential local resource to bridge learning gaps among citizens of all ages,” said Crowell.
The Carson City Library’s 2014 – 2019 strategic plan Level up (!), a strategic plan for learning offers a unified vision and practical approach to deliver public library services over the next five years. The plan outlines emphasis on learning opportunities, access to technology and reconfigured spaces within the main library building on Roop Street. The auditorium conversion into a digital commons, complete with new technology, has strategic programming goals focused on teens. Taken together the library can better serve the community’s most pressing needs, especially those that are related to building or sharpening marketable skills and providing essential support to public, private, charter and home school teachers, students and families.
“With this plan, the library proclaims its mission as a center for knowledge and discovery. The library will inspire learning, facilitate connection and create opportunity for our community,” said Loyd. “The grand (re) opening draws attention to our mission and allows us to show off how we have reconfigured over the last year in order to reach our goals.”
In addition to the converted auditorium space, library technology highlights also provide an adult computer training hub, advanced Macs and PC’s, a small meeting room, an electronic conversion station capable of moving content from one format to another (like VHS to digital files) and video and photo equipment check out. Patrons in good-standing who wish to access these resources may do so with a premiere library card. Qualifying patrons, who are free of fees, overdue or late items have a valid photo ID and who sign the premier library card agreement will have access to the advanced technology. In addition, teens in high school, age 14 to 17, may access similar resources in the youth department and the digitorium, with a signed premier library card agreement from a parent or legal guardian.
“The reconfigured library spaces and resources are already making valuable contributions to our community and are playing an integral role in helping the Carson City School District implement its strategic plan. The district plan relies on community partners like the public library in order to help create project-based learning experiences,” said Carson City School District Superintendent, Richard Stokes. “Librarian-educators have tremendous technology skills, experience and many have a teacher’s heart.”
The library’s technology programs help the community connect online with family and friends; understand and search the Internet; master basic computer skills; protect digital information and identity; print; manage online transactions, files and personal finance; use email; make websites and much more.
“The overarching mission is to connect and equip schools, business, families and the community to deliver high quality learning opportunities that enrich time spent in school, strengthen after-school programs and/or support self-directed adult learning. The library’s learning clinics and programs are designed to provide a free starting point,” said Library Trustee Chairwoman Sandy Foley.
The opening of the digitorium is the final phase in space changes driven from the new strategic plan. A partnership with the Nevada State Library and Archives Library Services Technology Act (LSTA) grant program and matching funds from the Friends of the Library and Library Foundation are the library’s funding sources for the digitorium / Carson City School District partnership during this school year.
“People overestimate information literacy skills when they assume because someone can surf the web they can find authoritative answers, search databases or find what they need. Our democracy depends on an informed, critically thinking citizenry. We are proud of what the library provides and are hopeful folks will come check things out,” said Foley.