Library Coding Club open to children, adults

Children who want to learn the basics of coding can attend the East Adams Library District’s (EALD) Coding Club every Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Ritzville Public Library.

The Coding Club provides children, and adults, with an opportunity to learn fundamental coding skills that could lead them to program their own video games, websites or mobile phone applications.

EALD Youth Services Library Assistant Millie Hopkins said the Ritzville Library Foundation provided the resources to help the district fund the club. She explained the district applied for a grant to pay for Prenda Code Club, which provides coding programs, training and support for schools and libraries.

While EALD did not receive the grant to fully fund the service, Hopkins said Prenda gave the library a discount to use the service for a year.

The Coding Club is different from the summer coding camps the library previously hosted. Hopkins said kids in the coding camps used CS First, a coding curriculum published by Google, and worked on the same projects.

She described the weekly coding club as more versatile as participants can work on their own projects at their own pace. There is no registration, and anyone sign up for the club at any time.

Hopkins noted the 4 p.m. start provides Lind youth enough time to travel to Ritzville to attend the club for the entire session.

One way for Ritzville Grade School students to travel to the library is to ride the Book Bus after school.

For children to ride the Book Bus, Hopkins said kids need to be in at least third grade and have their parents send a note or call the school office. Children who ride the bus will need to have transportation home from the library.

Participants will begin by creating an account and an on-screen avatar. As they learn how to use programs, users will earn clothing and accessories for their avatar.

Hopkins said the library might schedule events during the year where participants can display their projects to the public.

For more information on the Coding Club and other EALD programs, call 659-1222.