Kids and families in Petersburg will soon be able to program robots and learn coding without leaving their neighborhood, thanks to a $1,000 grant awarded to the Chapin Memorial Library.
The Boone County Public Library branch received the grant from the Rural Technology Fund, a Kentucky-founded nonprofit, to purchase three Sphero BOLT robotics kits and three Samsung Galaxy tablets. It marks the first time the Petersburg branch has owned any robotics equipment.
"Thanks to this grant, our community won't have to travel to experience robotics and coding; they'll be able to learn, create and explore right here in their library," Branch Manager Kaitlin Barber said in a news release announcing the award on July 24.
The library plans to use the equipment for recurring STEM workshops, drop-in tech activities, and summer learning programs. Participants will program robots to navigate obstacle courses and tackle creative challenges using beginner-friendly coding platforms, according to the library's announcement.
The Chapin Memorial Library is one of seven locations in the Boone County Public Library system, which also includes branches in Florence, Hebron, and Walton.
About the Rural Technology Fund
The Rural Technology Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 by Chris Sanders, who grew up in rural Kentucky. The organization works with schools and libraries to deliver technology education resources and says it has introduced more than 150,000 students to potential technology careers. Most of its grants range from $500 to $2,500, with no fixed application deadlines.
What's next
Specific dates for the new robotics workshops and drop-in sessions have not been announced. Workshop schedules will be posted at bcpl.org.
