Newtown High School junior Brendan Gregory walked between a number of his own students on Tuesday, February 3, in C.H. Booth Library’s meeting room.

Brendan has been overseeing the Computer Coding with Java program, for students in fifth grade and up, at the library, teaching younger students how to code with Java, a computer programming language.

On February 3, Brendan, who said he began overseeing the course because he knew C.H. Booth Library Young Adult Librarian Kim Weber and she knew he likes coding, made sure each of his students had everything set up to begin their next lesson. Each student sat with a laptop before them, busily typing and asking questions when necessary.

Brendan said he began the Computer Coding with Java course by helping the students understand a different coding language, and by the third class he was ready to show the students how to use Java. Brendan said he plans to offer the course once every other week for the foreseeable future, and Ms Weber said students can still sign up to participate.

One student, Tim McCarthy, an eighth grader, said he signed up for the course because he thought it would be interesting to see how programs are made and the coding behind them. Others said they wanted to attend the course because they thought it would be “cool” or a friend told them to go.

“It’s awesome because he’s a very good teacher,” said eighth grader Alex Delp about Brendan, “and he’s teaching a very good thing.”

Brendan has created apps for iPhones and iPads in the past. In 2013 he told The Bee about Atrixx, a game that has the player aim at enemy ships, and on February 3 he shared with his students that he has also created a game called Raft that has a player dodge logs while in a river in a raft.

The Coding with Java course is not the only technology-focused program being offered at the library.

Easton resident Ed Kalin, the co-founder of the Fairfield County Makers’ Guild, a nonprofit community makerspace located in Norwalk, according to the library, oversees the Getting Started with Arduino class, which is also offered through the library’s Young Adult department.

Again, Getting Started with Arduino participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops while Mr Kalin oversees different projects, which he said this week have included learning how to program robots.

“This class fits in very directly with the way libraries are changing their focus and really creating their own makerspaces,” said Mr Kalin.

There are nine people taking the Arduino class now, and Mr Kalin said he is working to help those students go from zero knowledge or a little knowledge of microcontrollers to feeling confident with working with their own controllers and creating their own products.

“There is a lot to learn, but in six lessons I can cover a lot of basics, so they are prepared to dive in,” said Mr Kalin.

Ms Weber said she feels lucky to be in Fairfield County, where she said people like Mr Kalin can be found to offer programs like the Arduino course.

“I really think this is a great program for the library to be doing,” said Ms Weber.

Standing by the 3D printer located in the Young Adult department, Ms Weber said she sees “potential for growth” with all of the programs being offered. One thing she has been thinking about though is how to inspire girls to become as involved in the technology program as boys have been.

With all of the technology programs being offered at the library, Ms Weber said she is hopeful that inventions, creations, and future inventors are being inspired. The Friends of the C.H. Booth Library and The Weller Foundation, Incorporated, Ms Weber said, have made offering so many programs possible.

C.H. Booth Head of Reference Andy Forsyth said she has been working to coordinate one-on-one computer training sessions that will cover the basics of e-mailing and working the IOS, an operating system. Ms Forsyth said the one-on-one sessions through her department can cover whatever the student wishes to learn. People can sign up for the computer training sessions by contacting the Reference Department by phone, 203-426-8552, or by e-mail, boothref@chboothlibrary.org. The one-on-one training sessions are offered on Mondays in the early afternoon.

Ms Forsyth also said she has more hands-on computer classes in the works, and she is hoping to offer a program on researching family history using online sources. She also said she is working to set up a course to offer social media instruction.

Children’s Librarian Lana Bennison said she is planning to offer some Scratch programming language courses using Lego Education WeDo instructional kits through her department. Ms Bennison also said she has a number of programs in the planning stages that will focus on creating, building, and expanding “meaningful play” while also focusing on enhancing a child’s artistic nature.

For more information about programs offered at the library or on how to sign up for programs call the library at 203-426-4533 or visit its website, chboothlibrary.org.