Oct 28, 2016 By Jill Thurston For The Almanac Writer@thealmanac.Net 4 min read

When imaging a library, card catalogues, books shelves, a librarian sitting behind a desk and a reading area full of young children is typically what comes to mind.

But how about 3D printers, computers and coding equipment?

As technology and learning coincide, an area to accommodate emerging methods to learn and create is a place where the pursuit of knowledge is accessible to everyone, such as the library.

Mt. Lebanon School District is re-imagining its seven elementary school libraries through the “Reimagining Our Elementary Libraries” initiative as part of the school district’s multi-year “Century of Excellence” capital campaign in an effort to encourage private giving for current and future revenue needs in the schools.

To boost the library transformation, the Conover family of Mt. Lebanon has donated $175,000 to be split evenly among the seven elementary schools. The announcement was made Oct. 20 at the “Dare to Dream” event in the high school’s center court. Keith Webster, dean of libraries for Carnegie Mellon University, gave the keynote address and spoke about the studies he’s been involved with that have found as technology evolves, libraries are utilized in new ways, leading to the need to repurpose library spaces to accommodate different learning experiences.

“The latest evolution in what we are seeing in libraries is the recreation of some of their space as ‘maker spaces,'” he said.

While university libraries and elementary school libraries have different missions, Webster believes that success in higher education is predicated upon success in working with information, and success in working with information is predicated upon good library experience which begins as early as elementary school.

The private gift from the Conovers will help to fund seven “Matt’s Maker Space” in each of the district’s elementary school libraries. Maker spaces are designated areas, even small ones, with tools and materials to create, build, invent and learn which are finding their way into classrooms and libraries. Matt’s Maker Space will be places where all the disciplines of STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art and math come together and are accessible to all students for creative thought and collaboration.

David and Noelle Conover have a heart for children and technology. The couple, along with their three surviving children, endured the heartbreaking loss of their eldest son, Matthew, in 2002 after a nine-month battle with cancer.

“Matt loved technology, especially video games,” Noelle Conover said.

A frequent patient at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh 14 years ago, the couple remembers racing to the nurse’s station after check-in to sign out the only computer on the floor. Sadly, their son lost his battle in 2002 just days before his 13th birthday.

The Conovers credit the community for helping them through their son’s illness.

“It was the community that rallied around us. They brought us meals, provided childcare for our children and even cleaned our house,” Noelle Conover said.

Since their son’s passing, the Conovers have raised funds for other technology efforts, opening media rooms in Matt’s name at Children’s Hospital, Our Clubhouse and Foster Elementary School Each of their children, Matthew, Megan, 29, Alex, 23, and Anna, 18, all attended Foster Elementary.

“Doing something for your community and returning a favor to those who have helped you is one of the best reasons to give back,” Noelle Conover said. “Matt’s Maker Spaces will be as unique and different as our elementary schools are. We are excited to be able give back to what was such an important part of our family’s education – the elementary schools.”

The district’s seven elementary schools, Foster, Howe, Hoover, Markham, Jefferson, Lincoln and Washington, each will receive $25,000 to fund their maker spaces. Some of the equipment that will be considered for the maker space include mobile devices such as iPads, 3D design tools and pointers, robotic devices for coding, circuitry and building materials as well “low tech” options like Legos, pipe cleaners and wire tubing.

“It’s right in line with 21st century skills and what kids need to do and how they need to learn,” Mt. Lebanon Superintendent Timothy Steinhauer said. “We are very appreciative of this extraordinary gift.”

The next step, Steinhauer said, is for each school to put together a team of teachers, parents, staff and students led by the school’s principal to plan maker spaces. He said the district hopes to see components for the spaces beginning in the 2017-18 school year.