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Library telescope program wins national award

Posted 9/11/16

The Maricopa County Library District (MCLD) won six National Association of Counties (NACo) achievement awards this year for innovation in county government programs.

The MCLD programs, along with …

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Library telescope program wins national award

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The Maricopa County Library District (MCLD) won six National Association of Counties (NACo) achievement awards this year for innovation in county government programs.

The MCLD programs, along with 51 other county programs, were honored Aug. 24 during a special recognition ceremony.

One of the programs earning honors was the Telescopes at the Library, a program partnering the Fountain Hills Branch Library and the Fountain Hills Astronomy Club.

Powerful telescopes are on loan to library subscribers to explore the heavens. Monthly Star Parties also are scheduled with volunteers describing elements of the sky, music and refreshments.

“One day, a Mom came in with her kids to pick up a telescope and told me they were excited because that night the kids were going to have a special fun night at home with just their dad. Along with the telescope, they were looking for books on space and astronomy.

“Bright Sky, Starry City by Uma Krishnaswami seemed like the perfect book to go along with the telescope, as it tells the story of a girl and her dad using a telescope in the city,” said Fountain Hills Library branch manager Vicki Novak.

Another program offered at the local library, Code Club, received accolades. Code Club introduces customers to computer coding for building websites, and creating apps and games.

Originally, the program focused on children between the ages of 8 and 13, but it was expanded to seniors who had an interest but lacked similar programs.

The Code Club model provides computers and software to users while librarians facilitate the self-paced learning of the participants as they learn coding.

Library staff members encourage participants to use critical thinking skills while working together to solve coding problems.

“Companies are looking for kids with these skills and so getting them on the path to becoming software developers is creating a real impact by providing educational and job-focused training,” said Tara Carpenter, library services manager.

Earning a “Best of Category” honor was MCLD’s Airport Library Lounge in the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, said Cindy Kolaczynski, MCLD director and county librarian.

The airport lounge provides travelers with electronic device charging stations, eBook downloads, free Wi-Fi, and age-appropriate books for children.

The library lounge is a 15-foot by 10-foot space in a corner of the main terminal at the baggage claim.

Other awards went to Teen Court Club (Guadalupe Branch), LibraryCon (Southeast Regional Library) and Summer Sonoran Series (White Tank Branch).

Maricopa County programs received a total of 57 NACo awards during 2016, the most of any county in the nation.