Snake River grant helps Magic Valley libraries provide more services to youth – Conquest of the Snake

FILER & BUHL, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) Two Magic Valley libraries are now offering more services to youth and young adults, thanks to grant funding.

The Buhl and Filer public libraries were recipients of “Conquest of the Snake Grant” through the Snake River Pool & Spa.

John Swayze is the director for the Filer library, he said they purchase new furniture, filing cabinets, bean bags and gaming chairs for the new youth-reading room.

“Within a weekend were were able to transform that room,” Swayze said.

The room is a place where young adults can relax, Swayze explained.

“The library hasn’t been change around very much, probably in the mid 80s. It needed an upgrade,” he said.

The Buhl Public Library received funding for maker supplies, to engage students in STEM activities and spark interest in coding.

“I know it can be intimidating, when somebody says ‘hey you need to program this machine to do something’. They’re making a lot of easier to code now. I want to get that interest up, especially here in such a rural area,” said Amanda Hatfield, the library’s cataloger and computer technician.