Library Link: All the little things

Airdrie Public Library’s (APL) primary marketing slogan for the last two years has been 'More Than Just Books.'

As a marketing tool, it’s useful for pointing out that while your library has close to 80,000 items in its physical collection and card holders have access to more than three million items through our affiliation with the Marigold Library System and TRAC, APL does offer more than just books.

Don’t get me wrong – fostering knowledge and literacy is our thing. But in addition to all those books we can provide, we love including e-books, audiobooks, large-print books, newspapers, magazines, atlases, business directories and indexes, and encyclopaedias within our collections. Our online eResources include plenty of reading-based educational opportunities for learning new skills and improving the ones you have, including access to 7,000-plus newspapers and magazines, language-learning programs, and do-it-yourself manuals.

However, while all this is amazing, there are some "little" things in our collection that can easily go unnoticed, but are just as useful in a life-long journey of learning.

For instance, some of our latest additions are these cool little Okobo robot kits, which are ideal for ages five to 12 in helping this age group discover, engage with, and learn coding.

Understanding how to code is important for the same reason that even just having a basic knowledge of how a combustion engine, or a toaster, or a hair dryer works is useful. The more you understand how they work, the less of a mystery it is when they don’t. In the same vein, coding helps develop an appreciation for how the growing number of computerized devices around us do what they do.

On top of this, like feeding your children vegetable-based pasta, coding also sneaks math into the experience in fun and creative ways.

We also have tablets preloaded with apps for preschoolers and school-aged kids, and iPads for adults 55 and over. These also come pre-loaded with apps, including our TRACpac app.

Again, these can be checked out just like a book.

For more information on all APL’s resources, books or otherwise, go to airdriepubliclibrary.ca