Eight-year-old Maks Kirkland is matter of fact when recounting why he participated in Airdrie Public Library’s (APL) Minecraft Mayhem program.
“Well, I really like to blow stuff up … and to build stuff,” he said.
The Minecraft Mayhem program invited children to celebrate the new library and multi-use facility project by designing one using the popular platform.
Maks, who has been playing Minecraft for two years, built an elaborate, sprawling, two-storey island destination using his Nintendo Switch.
With beautiful ocean views, the first floor features a musical entrance, live exhibits of a skeleton, bats, glow squids, an enchanting room, and a zombie villager, who is kept safely away from the public.
The enchanting room, he explains, is for if, “people just want to come in and enchant stuff, and then just stay in the library.”
Upstairs is a study table, a map of the world, and all the books a visitor could ever want.
Since the library is a family destination, there is also a hotel and a jungle.
“There’s a room full of pets,” Maks explains, “That’s my hotel room.”
The jungle provides food for all the people who come.
Also, the property features a blue Creeper House, where patrons can do a parkour challenge to get inside while avoiding the Creeper, who likes to chase players.
His mother, Sasha, says that using Minecraft has been very helpful for her son.
“Minecraft really got him reading, you know, understanding the different things, typing the commands – it’s been really good for him,” she said.
What does Maks want to see in Airdrie's new library when it’s eventually built?
“A nice big room, with a parkour course and fake lava on the floor,” he said.
On a more serious note, Maks also hopes that the library will have, “wheelchair accessibility.” He noted his mother has mobility issues and it’s important to Maks that she can come to the library with him.
Has Maks blown up his Minecraft library? No chance, he says.
“No, not the library, it’s too nice”
