Now you can exercise digital creativity at the Bloomfield Library

Bloomfield students Sam Pate and Jordan Pitcher attended the Google Cardboard Virtual Reality event at the Bloomfield Public Library on Thursday evening. Teen Librarian Becca Feirer said the library purchased a few virtual reality goggles last year, and this was the first time using them. Feirer said the goggles only required a smart phone, which teens were able to bring with them.

By Kelly Slaven

The Bloomfield Library will be closed on Monday, Jan. 16 for a staff training day, according to Library Director Austin Stroud. The staff will receive training on the new Digital Creativity Station, which boasts a brand new Mac computer and design programs. The Digital Creativity Station is available for use at the Library during regular business hours for those who have completed training and have a library card.

To receive training, which is required in order to use the Digital Creativity Station, Stroud said a quick training session will be held for the public on Thursday, Jan. 19 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. and from 6:30-7:30 p.m. For those unable to make these training sessions, Stroud said those interested can call the Adult Circulation desk to schedule a training time.

The Digital Creativity Station and new equipment was made possible by an LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) grant the library received from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services last year, administered by the Indiana State Library.

New equipment includes a desktop iMac computer, three Macbook Air laptops, three external hard drives, one film and slide scanner, one wide format wireless printer, one VCR to DVD converter, one USB microphone, one video recording camcorder and several computer programs.

Once a patron is trained, he or she can then use the equipment at any time, though Stroud said the new desktop computer and three laptops will be available for use only in the library, while other equipment will be available for check out.

Equipment which can be taken home with patrons includes the camcorder, external hard drives and accessories.

At the Bloomfield Library Board’s monthly meeting on Wednesday evening, Stroud said 2016 had been an eventful year for the Library.

“It was a tough year, but we accomplished a lot,” he said.

The Bloomfield Library was able to complete a renovation during 2016, which included brand new carpeting, furniture and the addition of the Digital Creativity Station, in addition to maintaining an active presence at the new location of the Bloomfield Farmers Market weekly throughout the summer of 2016.

The Bloomfield Library Board voted to keep it’s monthly meetings at 5 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month in the Community Room of the Library.