Sonoma County Library offers a variety of opportunities for youth to learn essential digital coding skills as a way of promoting STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) in the 21st century. 

Why Offer Coding Classes?

At their essence, public libraries spark creativity, ignite the imagination, and encourage learning through play and experimentation. Coding and computer classes allow children and teens the opportunity to acquire new digital literacy skills and to grow in new ways. SCL has been offering coding classes since 2013, when we offered Minecraft Coding Camps supported by a Library Services Technology Act grant through the California State Library.  Since then, coding clubs, classes, and workshops have been offered in different formats and with different focuses, with the goals of cultivating problem-solving skills, improving confidence and skills with computers, and providing children and teens with an informal learning process that is most effective for learning to code. 

Library coding activities/programs focus on building skills for the future, and support the critical piece of the Library's Strategic Plan, that we "[p]rovide our residents with access to a variety of technologies in order to acquire new skills, explore new possibilities, and make informed consumer decisions with technology."

What Kinds of Programs Are They?

Sonoma County Library offers several different formats of coding clubs, classes, and workshops, including:

CoderDojo

CoderDojo is part of an international volunteer-led, independent, community based, free programming club. Young people age 12-17 are invited to join. Learn to code, develop websites, games, and much, much more. BEGINNERS WELCOME!

•  www.coderdojopetaluma.org.   

Hour of Code Workshops

Hour of Code workshops are a fun and simple one-hour introduction to computer science, using curriculum and resources at Code.org. No experience needed! For ages 9-12. Hour of Code classes have been offered at branches across the system on an ongoing basis.

• Please register directly through Hour of Code events listed below.

Girls Who Code

Extended coding class for 6th-12th grade girls, to use computer science to impact their community and to build skills to help close the gender gap in technology. Space is limited to 10 participants, and participants are expected to attend all sessions. Currently offered at the Sebastopol Library.

• Please contact the Sebastopol Regional Library for more information and to register.

Adventures In Coding

This is a six week series for ages 10–13 where participants learn coding using Scratch. Space is limited to 10 participants, and participants are expected to attend all sessions. Adventures in Coding series have been offered once or twice each year at the Healdsburg Library. 

• Please review the Library's Calendar of Events to look for upcoming Adventures in Coding events, and register directly for upcoming events below.

How Do I Sign Up?

For children and teens interested in learning coding or practicing coding skills, space in coding classes and clubs is limited, so we ask you to register online at the specific event in order to guarantee your spot.

For adults interested in volunteering to help run coding clubs, please check the Library's Volunteer Recruitment page for upcoming opportunities. Many of these offerings would not be possible without the dedication and support of our skilled volunteers.

Upcoming Events

None currently scheduled.