Interactive Learning at the Library

Libraries are no longer just a place to go sit and read. A recent push has been making libraries more interactive.

For years, kids have been able to go to Muskingum County libraries and use a computer, but now the system is starting an interactive discovery experience. The program gives kids the opportunity to do hands on activities to develop their science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics skills.

“It’s really important for a well rounded person,” said Assistant Director of the Muskingum County Library System, Blair Tom. “And with the art kind of focus it engages their creativity. The community charged us with read, discover, learn, create. This certainly involves discover and create and some could argue learn, so we think it’s really important to focus on all four of those areas that the community has given us to work on.”

The program is currently on a rotating basis through the six libraries. Tom said a different portion of steam is represented at the different branches. But there are plans to make it a more permanent aspect in the system.

“At this point we are doing them on a monthly basis, and then our goal would be as we have information based kinds of outcomes, we would develop little centers in our library where those opportunities would always be available,” Tom said.

According to Tom, the library will utilize its summer reads program to really gage how people are using the new interactive experience.