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Jaime Griffis spoke to us about IdeaExchange, our local library. Libraries are adapting to changing times. They will exist after paper books are gone. It's now about people and
ideas. IdeaExchange has 44,000 active members who borrowed over 1,000,000 pieces of material last year. But they are moving beyond book borrowing to community programs. They have lots of children's programs which are growing rapidly. Their goal is to positively impact the community: for example, to improve early literacy (summer reading club), to make children ready for kindergarten, to provide family activities during march break, to get kids interested in STEM.
Unexpected results: they have found that sometimes early literacy programs help a parent learn to read along with their child.
Why did Jaime want to work at IdeaExchange? Because Cambridge has been visionary, great community spirit, and IdeaExchange has great support from the city.
The new post office location, currently under renovation, will have:
- collaboration studio for makers, including 3d printing.
- children's discovery centre with print and digital literacy.
- reading room with Monogram coffee.
- teen space with av recording and editing, performance space, gaming Jaime ended her talk emphasizing accountability. The March community report demonstrates the benefits the provide - see it online at this link. |
