Library NExT
Library NExT (Network of Education x Training) is a series of workshops for middle and high school students on topics including robotics, circuits and 3D modeling. Initially started as a pilot program at six San Diego libraries in 2017, it expanded to 10 locations in 2018 with plans to be offered at more City of San Diego library locations. This San Diego Public Library program is a collaboration with UC San Diego Extension and Sally Ride Science.
Program Your Future
With the addition of “Program Your Future” to the program, Library NExT offers high school students in-depth knowledge and training for high demand career tracks or collegiate pursuits. Students receive digital badges when they complete each course. When all courses of a track are complete, students receive a certificate from the globally-recognized UC San Diego Extension, which can set them apart when applying for college or pursuing a career.
August Programs
Game Studio
August 16, 1 - 4 p.m. | Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library | Register Here
Level: High School (9th – 12th Grade)
After identifying their passions and talents—be it artist, sound engineer and/or programmer, students form collaborative groups or “Game Studios”! Artists are responsible for developing 3D models, graphics and animations. Sound engineers create audio effects and the programmers integrate these sub-pieces into a final game product. Tools including Gimp, Audacity and intermediate level C# language and the Unity game engine will be used. Inherently built into the class is learning the importance of project management, time allocation, and how to establish realistic benchmark goals and timelines. Note: To take this course students must have completed either Introduction to Programming and/or Introduction to 3D Modeling courses or have prior consent from the instructor.
Fire and Ice
August 17, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. | Mission Valley Library | Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Together we learn how volcanoes erupt, how icebergs form from when huge-chunks of ice break off from glaciers. One of the largest icebergs known was bigger than the whole island of Jamaica! Playing silly games we also learn other wacky facts -- did you know that no one knows who invented the fire hydrant because its patent was destroyed in a fire? We explore how fire and ice are a natural art painting pallet as we learn about the magnetic stripes on the seafloor, how ice sculptures are made and how back in the day earthquake records (seismograms) were recorded on smoked paper. Don’t sneeze on that or you will lose all your data! There will be no open flames in this class. No experience required.
Fire and Ice
August 18, 1 - 4 p.m. | Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa Library | Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Together we learn how volcanoes erupt, how icebergs form from when huge-chunks of ice break off from glaciers. One of the largest icebergs known was bigger than the whole island of Jamaica! Playing silly games we also learn other wacky facts -- did you know that no one knows who invented the fire hydrant because its patent was destroyed in a fire? We explore how fire and ice are a natural art painting pallet as we learn about the magnetic stripes on the seafloor, how ice sculptures are made and how back in the day earthquake records (seismograms) were recorded on smoked paper. Don’t sneeze on that or you will lose all your data! There will be no open flames in this class. No experience required.
Robotics with LEGO Mindstorm: Part II
August 18, 1 - 4 p.m. | Linda Vista Library | Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Learn the basics of robotics and build autonomous robots using the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 kit. Students will engage in both independent learning and group robotics competitions. No prior experience is required.
Kitchen Chemistry: Glorious Chocolate
August 18, 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. | Mira Mesa Library | Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
The many wonders of chocolate, from the biochemical effects on humans to how and why it changes state are probed in this Library NExT course. We look at the history of the cocoa tree, including how it is processed and which chemicals contribute to the unique chocolate taste. Budding bakers will run an edible experiment and make chocolate cookies. For safety reasons no open flame will be used in this class. Any necessary cooking is accomplished using a small toaster oven, a single hot plate or a microwave. All participants must abide by the safety rules. No prior experience required.
Fire and Ice
August 22, 2 - 5 p.m. | City Heights Library | Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Together we learn how volcanoes erupt, how icebergs form from when huge-chunks of ice break off from glaciers. One of the largest icebergs known was bigger than the whole island of Jamaica! Playing silly games we also learn other wacky facts -- did you know that no one knows who invented the fire hydrant because its patent was destroyed in a fire? We explore how fire and ice are a natural art painting pallet as we learn about the magnetic stripes on the seafloor, how ice sculptures are made and how back in the day earthquake records (seismograms) were recorded on smoked paper. Don’t sneeze on that or you will lose all your data! There will be no open flames in this class. No experience required.
Introduction to Python: Session I
August 23, 1 - 4 p.m. | Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library | Register Here
Level: High School (9th – 12th Grade)
Learn to code with the programming language Python. Through lectures and hands-on activities, students will get an in-depth introduction to this popular programming language.
Electronics Bread-Board Design Projects
August 25, 1 - 4 p.m. | Rancho Penasquitos Library | Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Using various electronic components, students will learn the basics of circuits and build mid-level bread board projects such as a lightsensitive nightlight, railroad crossing signal with timer, a sound effect board, pocket flashlight and much more! Students learn how to draw and identify circuit drawings; and working with integrated chips together we learn how capacitors and transistors can be used in a project for a specific purpose. All projects will be completed in class.
Messy Science
August 25, 1 - 4 p.m. | Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa Library | Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Library NExT’s Messy Science class offers hands-on learning activities, including the opportunity to design structures and test their resiliency. Students explore concepts such as tsunamis, landslides, permafrost, glaciers, and sea level rise. Learn why and how things ooze, what makes an explosion and the hidden reason why some things can spin and others cannot. Come prepared to make a mess.
Intro to Autodesk Inventor
August 25, 1 - 4 p.m. | Linda Vista Library | Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade) & High School (9th – 12th Grade)
Aspiring engineers: Want to learn how to use popular 3-D design software that’s widely used in a variety of engineering fields? Join us for this hands-on workshop to create digital 3-D objects using the software Autodesk Inventor. Design, construct and assemble a 3-D digital car, and then let your imagination run wild as you build your own creations.
Fire and Ice
August 25, 2 - 5 p.m. | Mira Mesa Library | Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Together we learn how volcanoes erupt, how icebergs form from when huge-chunks of ice break off from glaciers. One of the largest icebergs known was bigger than the whole island of Jamaica! Playing silly games we also learn other wacky facts -- did you know that no one knows who invented the fire hydrant because its patent was destroyed in a fire? We explore how fire and ice are a natural art painting pallet as we learn about the magnetic stripes on the seafloor, how ice sculptures are made and how back in the day earthquake records (seismograms) were recorded on smoked paper. Don’t sneeze on that or you will lose all your data! There will be no open flames in this class. No experience required.
Exploring the Science of Harry Potter
August 28, 4:30 - 7 p.m. | Mission Valley Library | Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Science is integrated in each of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books, which is just one of the reasons the magic is so real. In this class we explore the science and magic of the world of Harry Potter through video clips, presentations, discussions, and group play-acting. Topics include genetics and trait prediction (parseltongue, giants, squibs), acid/base chemistry (Marauder’s Map), fantastic beasts and herbology.
Physics of Fidget Spinners
August 28, 4:30 - 7 p.m. | Logan Heights Library | Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Ever wonder why some fidget spinners spin longer or hum louder than others? You will discover answers to these questions and much more as we learn about motion, tension, gravity and other fantastic phenomena related to fidget spinners and the world at large.
Introduction to Python: Session II
August 30, 1 - 4 p.m. | Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library | Register Here
Level: High School (9th – 12th Grade)
Learn to code with the programming language Python. Through lectures and hands-on activities, students will get an in-depth introduction to this popular programming language.
September Programs
Gorging on Geology
September 1, 1 - 4 p.m. | Skyline Hills Library | Registration opens 8/1, Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Get right up and personal with rocks and minerals and taste yummy treats inspired by Earth’s inner layers. Create desserts representing the three different rock types, and even grow sugar crystals themselves! Together we learn how to point out common minerals in everyday materials and come away with knowledge of what makes up our planet. If you love coloring, playing with your food, and eating, then Gorging on Geology is the class for you!
Kitchen Chemistry: Glorious Chocolate
September 1, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | City Heights Library | Registration opens 8/1, Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
The many wonders of chocolate, from the biochemical effects on humans to how and why it changes state are probed in this Library NExT course. We look at the history of the cocoa tree, including how it is processed and which chemicals contribute to the unique chocolate taste. Budding bakers will run an edible experiment and make chocolate cookies. For safety reasons no open flame will be used in this class. Any necessary cooking is accomplished using a small toaster oven, a single hot plate or a microwave. All participants must abide by the safety rules. No prior experience required.
Music and the Brain
September 4, 4:30 - 7 p.m. | Logan Heights Library | Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Explore how music affects your brain and body in physical, cognitive and emotional ways. Engage in fascinating musical activities that will help you understand how music relates to math and science as well as to a person’s cultural identity and history.
Slime and Non-Newtonian Fluids
September 5, 4 - 7 p.m. | Skyline Hills Library | Registration opens 8/5, Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Slime: it’s slippery, gooey, malleable and oozy. But did you know you could use it to illustrate phenomena in the natural world? Just like slime, Earth’s glaciers, mudslides and quaking bogs are made of fluids that are neither liquid nor solid. Prepare for slimy fun as we investigate the interplay between viscosity, friction and gravity. Slime recipes included!
Robotics with LEGO Mindstorm: Session I
September 8, 1 - 4 p.m. | Rancho Penasquitos Library | Registration opens 8/8, Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Learn the basics of robotics and build autonomous robots using the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 kit. Students will engage in both independent learning and group robotics competitions. No prior experience is required.
Introduction to Circuits Using Makey Makey
September 8, 1 - 4 p.m. | Skyline Hills Library | Registration opens 8/8, Register Here
Level: High School (9th – 12th Grade)
Do electronics and bananas go together? Absolutely! Using Makey Makey circuit boards, students will create fun circuits that incorporate everyday items like gummy bears, aluminum foil or bouncy balls. Students will then use their new circuitry skills to make games, music or art.
Gorging on Geology
September 8, 2 - 5 p.m. | Mission Valley Library | Registration opens 8/8, Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Get right up and personal with rocks and minerals and taste yummy treats inspired by Earth’s inner layers. Create desserts representing the three different rock types, and even grow sugar crystals themselves! Together we learn how to point out common minerals in everyday materials and come away with knowledge of what makes up our planet. If you love coloring, playing with your food, and eating, then Gorging on Geology is the class for you!
Being Sherlock - The Art of the Mystery and the Science of Forensics
September 8, 1 - 4 p.m. | Linda Vista Library | Registration opens 8/4, Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
If you like reading mysteries and are intrigued by crime investigation, then this class is for you! Explore the exciting world of forensics, including DNA evidence, fingerprints and handwriting analysis. Then learn how mystery writers incorporate this information into their books. No experience is required.
Stephen Hawking - Dark Holes and the Science of Space and Time
September 12, 4 - 7 p.m. | Skyline Hills Library | Registration opens 8/12, Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Learn about the life of the late Stephen Hawking, one of the most famous physicists of all time, who left an indelible scientific legacy. In this interactive class, we will examine Hawking’s life, disability, writings, imperfections and contributions to science. No prior knowledge is required.
Kitchen Chemistry: Glorious Chocolate
September 15, 1 - 4 p.m. | Skyline Hills Library | Registration opens 8/15, Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
The many wonders of chocolate, from the biochemical effects on humans to how and why it changes state are probed in this Library NExT course. We look at the history of the cocoa tree, including how it is processed and which chemicals contribute to the unique chocolate taste. Budding bakers will run an edible experiment and make chocolate cookies. For safety reasons no open flame will be used in this class. Any necessary cooking is accomplished using a small toaster oven, a single hot plate or a microwave. All participants must abide by the safety rules. No prior experience required.
Slime and Non-Newtonian Fluids
September 15, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | City Heights Library | Registration opens 8/15, Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Slime: it’s slippery, gooey, malleable and oozy. But did you know you could use it to illustrate phenomena in the natural world? Just like slime, Earth’s glaciers, mudslides and quaking bogs are made of fluids that are neither liquid nor solid. Prepare for slimy fun as we investigate the interplay between viscosity, friction and gravity. Slime recipes included!
Robotics with LEGO Mindstorm: Session II
September 15, 1 - 4 p.m. | Rancho Penasquitos Library | Registration opens 8/8, Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
Learn the basics of robotics and build autonomous robots using the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 kit. Students will engage in both independent learning and group robotics competitions. No prior experience is required.
Kitchen Chemistry: Glorious Chocolate
September 15, 1 - 4 p.m. | Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa Library | Registration opens 8/15, Register Here
Level: Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
The many wonders of chocolate, from the biochemical effects on humans to how and why it changes state are probed in this Library NExT course. We look at the history of the cocoa tree, including how it is processed and which chemicals contribute to the unique chocolate taste. Budding bakers will run an edible experiment and make chocolate cookies. For safety reasons no open flame will be used in this class. Any necessary cooking is accomplished using a small toaster oven, a single hot plate or a microwave. All participants must abide by the safety rules. No prior experience required.
October Programs
SAT Test Prep
October 6, 13, 27 & November 3 (Four Sessions) | Skyline Hills Library | Registration opens 9/1, Register Here
Level: High School (10th-12th Grade)
This SAT® course is for the student whose busy lifestyle demands efficient prep in a condensed amount of time. The course focuses on the test topics that impact your score the most! Our UCSD team will help you score higher on the SAT® test with exclusive test-taking tactics designed to increase your score. This course is geared towards current 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. Students will receive a textbook and 16 hours of instruction across 4 days. After you take the practice tests, we’ll carefully analyze the results together. It is important that students enrolling in the course attend all four sessions.
Recently Offered
Python
This course will introduce students to computer programming via the Python programming language. Each class will consist of a brief lecture, followed by a self-guided demo. The course will cover basic topics in programming, such as arithmetic and Boolean expressions, string manipulation, conditional statements, for and while loops, I/O, and abstract functions. Attention will be paid to helping students develop good programming habits and code documentation. Students will be evaluated with weekly problem sets and a final project.
Independent Film Making
Books and videos can transport us into any world we want! Join us to explore the basics of video production (composition, filming and editing) and storytelling in a 3-sessions amateur filmmaking series. Collaborate with friends to make a video about you and your neighborhood using equipment that's at your fingertips – phones and tablets!
Music and Your Brain
In this Library NExT program, students explore how music affects the brain and body in physical, cognitive, and emotional ways. Learn how every person has unique connections with music yet there are many shared reacts and interactions to music. Together we explore how music relates to cultural identity, history, math and science. This class is built around musical activities and group work as students discover new ways to think musically.
Introduction to Circuits using Makey-Makey
Do electronics and bananas go together? Absolutely! Learn how to create fun circuits using Makey-Makey circuit boards that can be expanded and accentuated with everyday items like a banana, tin foil or a bouncy ball. Science and art will collide as the technology of circuits is used to create art in the form of music, paintings and photographs.
Virtual Reality with Google Cardboard
Join the Virtual Reality technology movement that simulates experiences (like going on a roller coaster) using Google Cardboard (a Virtual Reality viewer). Work in groups to create your own virtual reality interactive tools and games and learn basic concepts of stereoscopy. Gain experience in C+ programming, 3D modeling and learn how to use the popular UNITY game engine. No prior experience with computer programming or 3D modeling is required.
Make Your Own Inflatables
Explore the fascinating world of bubbles! Discover the intersection of engineering, architecture, art and nature through amazing experiments with bubbles and inflatables. As inventors and designers we will be building our own unique constructions through the iterative design-to-build process and creating giant inflatables from ordinary plastic bags! No experience required.
Introduction to Robotics with LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3
Learn basic concepts of robotics and then build robots using the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 kit while using basic flowchart programming to create autonomous robots. Working in groups, compete in science instrument deployment competitions using multiple sensors on the robots. No prior experience with robotics or programming is required.
Introduction to Video game Programming with Unity
What better way to learn introductory concepts of computer science than within a video game environment powered by the popular Unity game engine as a visualization tool! Using the C# scripting language, learn code structure and syntax, conditional statements, loops, functions, data structures and write and run simple scripts. After learning how to handle user input, object collision and interface design, create your own simple video game!
Messy Science - Atmosphere
In this workshop format class we explore the beauty, mysteries and facts about our planet earth. Using tools and materials from our modern world we will re-enact some of the physics, chemistry, and biology that make earth unique in the Known Space. Hands-on activities will be punctuated with sounds of boom, crash, zip and slime! The class is configurable to different lessons each focusing on an aspect of that include topics of glaciers, volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides, permafrost, sea level rise and tsunamis. During these workshops students will design things, test things, throw things, and stomp on things. Using our newfound knowledge of our earth system we will use our imaginations to make our planet a more fun place.
