School Library Journal's 2018 School Librarian of the Year Ali Schilpp was one of 250 school and public librarian American Library Associations’s (ALA) Libraries Ready to Code grant recipients. Each librarian received $500 from the initiative, which is sponsored by Google, “to help plan and implement coding activities” this week—Computer Science Education (CS Ed) Week 2018.

Schilpp meet with her students during an Hour of Code to use the Animate a Name lesson from Google CS.

“Students select a name to animate such as a favorite book character or historical figure that they are researching,” she said via email. “I have tested it on several students and they enjoy it! It's very user-friendly even for beginners.”

WATCH a video highlighting the lesson with Schilpp’s students.

“For the grant, I will need to share/promote on Twitter and complete a Google form for ALA. Then, they may consider my school library for additional funding,” she said. “I am waiting to see what the students may need as we continue the process. I am able to implement during the school day but it could lead to support for afterschool club, supplies, tech etc.”

Schilpp has also recently become the facilitator for the first Girls Who Cod club in her district and is part of a community group that is planning a GWC summer camp for girls in third through eighth grade.

“I am not an expert at coding and do not have a CS background, but I was asked to be the leader and accepted the challenge,” she said. “I strive to be their advocate and am excited to learn with them and continue to discover their talents!”

ALA announced the grants last week.

“ALA is proud to continue the expansion of Libraries Ready to Code,” said ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo said in a statement. “We hope this microfunding for libraries will not only generate enthusiasm for CS Ed Week, but spark year-round programming to develop critical thinking and digital skills youth can draw on over a lifetime.”

The CS Ed Week microfunding comes as part of an announcement by ALA and Grow with Google which includes the launch of the Libraries Ready to Code website , the expansion of Google’s in-person workshops for job seekers and small businesses to libraries in all 50 states, and an additional $1 million investment in funding to libraries.

Ready to Code initiative leaders estimate that the CS Ed Week funding will enable more than 60,000 youth all around the country to take part in coding activities throughout the week. Library staff will share these activities using #readytocode, #csfirst, #GrowWithGoogle and @alalibrary.