New computers added at Sonoma County Library to aid childhood learning

Two-year-old Ivan Harrington was drawn to the computer at the Guerneville library Tuesday morning for the same reasons that beckon all children his age.

Bright colors. Cartoon characters. Headphones.

What wasn’t to like?

“This is way more advanced than what we have at home,” said the boy’s mother, Devon Harrington.

The Sonoma County Library has added a dozen new touch-screen computers at its branches to facilitate learning through technology. Each computer station is programmed with more than 70 educational games spanning seven curricular areas for children ages 2-8.

For the first time, the lessons are offered in English and Spanish. Library officials say the technology is a major upgrade from the Windows 98 software that kids were using but which was constantly crashing. Nevertheless, the new technology is not designed to fully supplant reading from books.

“It’s complementary to it,” said Nancy Sampson, branch manager of the Guerneville library. “You have to go to where the kids are going. The technology is already there.”

Said Carol Singleton, the children’s librarian in Guerneville, “Playing is learning.”

The new computer stations cost nearly $50,000 and were purchased by the Sonoma County Public Library Foundation from a Pennsylvania-based firm, AWE, which claims on its website that its technology is found in 40 percent of the nation’s public libraries.

At the Windsor Library on Tuesday, 9-year-old Raymond Schweid tried out the new computer for the first time. The third-grader said it was fun because “you can pretty much play anything.”

Tiffany Bronzan, the children’s librarian, said the fact the machines offer bilingual instruction is “huge for this community.” Nearly 20 percent of Sonoma County county residents speak Spanish at home, according to census data.

The bilingual capability “itself pays for the machines,” Bronzan said.

Kathy DeWeese, coordinator of children’s services for the Sonoma County Library, said kids develop literacy skills through talking, singing, reading, writing and playing. She said the latter is very important because through playing, children develop context for the world around them.

She said the new computers also allow children a degree of autonomy as they swipe, click, poke the screen and press keys.

“As my daughter would say, ‘I do it myself, Mama,’?” DeWeese said.

The computer games impart lessons in a variety of subjects, including reading, language arts, math, science, social studies, writing, graphic arts, typing and music. The content is geared to new Common Core standards.

Devon Harrington said she and her son often visit the Guerneville library because they don’t have Internet access at home. She predicted Ivan will really get into the technology once he’s a bit older and able to grasp the lessons.

The keyboards on the computers feature oversized and brightly colored keys, which are perfect for kids. Many familiar cartoon characters are featured in the programming, including SpongeBob SquarePants Typing, Sesame Street Learn, Play and Grow, and Diego’s Safari Rescue. There’s also Volcano Panic, BBC Science Simulations, Stationary Studio and My Amazing Human Body.

Sonoma County libraries also offer story time and other services to promote literacy for children.

You can reach Staff Writer Derek Moore at 521-5336 or derek.moore@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @deadlinederek.