OPINION

Progress: Lester Library reaches out in new ways

Jeff Dawson
Lester Public Library director, Two Rivers
Jeff Dawson

2016. Lester Public Library reached out to library patrons in new and exciting ways. We launched technology, early literacy training and community conversations that widen our audience while staying true to our mission to "Read, Discover, Connect and Enrich."

New technology. With our Pocket WiFi project, patrons can check out the internet and take it home. A device called a portable hotspot generates a wireless signal and connects any mobile-enabled device — laptop, smartphone, tablet and, in some cases, even PC — to the internet. It’s the size of a smartphone and can travel; connect to the internet in your car, on the bus, at the beach … anywhere there’s an active Sprint 3G or 4G network.

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Rows of books at the Lester Public Library in Two Rivers.

Early literacy.

We provided expert continuing education to those in the community best positioned to provide services to Manitowoc County children. We invited nationally renowned early childhood literacy expert Saroj Ghoting to speak to area agencies including Head Start, the YMCA, the county’s Birth to 3 program and health and human services departments. Ghoting provided key resources and activities that support early literacy.

Community conversations. We began a new quarterly series called Community Conversation; our goal was to provide a comfortable meeting place for our city police officials and Two Rivers residents to sit down and discuss issues and current events (both national and local) that relate to public safety and crime, and that impact police and community relations.

2017. We commit to building upon the success of 125 years serving people in and near Two Rivers.

Book to Art Club. A new reading club begins in April. Members read the same title and then create a work of art based upon that book. Participants will interpret the book in any art form — from watercolor to sculpture to computer-generated art to dance. It’s both a reading and crafting (or performance!) class.

Technology. We launched a new series for youth (8 and older) and adults called Hour of Code. It’s an introduction to computer science designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics. With more than 500,000 current computing job openings and that number expected to grow at twice the rate of all other jobs, we think it’s important to offer this training. And it’s fun! As the series progresses, so will the challenge.
https://www.htrnews.com/story/opinion/2017/03/22/lester-public-library-two-rivers-jeff-dawson-portable-wifi-early-literacy/98402638/
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