It is a “no brainer” that we are intentional in our collaboration with elected officials, community groups, special interest groups and our public – after all, we are resourceful leaders who want the best for our communities; however, collaboration is not without risk, so we have to be strategic about how we collaborate, when, and with whom. Sometimes it is just easier to do things by ourselves as we have always done things in the past. That way we maintain control and predictability – less risk that way. 

 

My message today is to encourage you to take a risk, try something new, align yourself with another organization or individuals who have the energy and drive to transform, do something for your community and then make sure that your community hears about the outcome. Tell your story. Blow your horn.

 

The work that we have done in the last year with our Indigenous communities has surely stretched Marigold in a positive direction. We have embraced this opportunity with gusto, to which Rose Reid can attest. Rose is our Indigenous Outreach Specialist, who attends flea markets in Morley with Angelique from the Cochrane Public Library. Rose is also on the Morley pond hockey board, she has joined the Rotary Club, and she makes frequent trips to Stoney Nakoda Nation to connect with residents, many of whom she knows from her years as the library manager at the Bighorn Library in Exshaw. Marigold HQ staff have made multiple visits to the Siksika Outreach School and Old Sun College, and they set up a booth at the Helping Hands resource fair to issue library cards and demonstrate how to use electronic resources. The result of this and other outreach initiatives is a 400% increase in memberships held by residents of Siksika and Stoney Nakoda Nations since June 2016.

 

 

"Coding affects all of our lives - even just reading this article you are witnessing what coding can do! I wrote this article on my computer, which is coded with an operating system (Windows), using a word processor (Microsoft Word 2013) that was coded to bring the letters I press into the keyboard together in the document I need created. Everything we do on computers is code.

 

Code can be frustratingly complicated or simplistically easy, so much so that a child that can’t read can do some basic coding games. Code is very important in our everyday life and just like someone should understand how a car works before driving, people should understand coding at least at a base level. Libraries can play a part in building this understanding in patrons. There are many simple and fun computer games that can be used to teach kids, and even adults, how to code simple things, like moving a character across a screen. There are also many toys that can be used to teach coding, like the Finch Robot, and board games, like Robot Turtles. I have learned a lot by playing these games and testing these toys in preparation for running coding programs over the summer. This just goes to show that basically anyone can pick up these games and at least learn a little about how coding works! 

 

By providing children with the tools to learn how to code early, we can give them a huge advantage in their lives, especially as our society grows more reliant on and accustomed to technology. Coding is the up-and-coming skill that many employers will want people to know when looking at job applications. Libraries that have coding lessons and tutorials will help the next generation of children to learn about something that is increasingly becoming a part of everyday life."