Code Lab

Code Lab is back at Gloucester Library on Tuesday 3 November, from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. It's a digital session run by Gloucestershire Libraries, aimed at young people aged 7 to 14, and it's set up as a first step into computer programming. The whole point is to get you tinkering with code without needing any prior experience.

Inside, you work at your own pace rather than following a rigid lesson plan. You'll be using a few different tools depending on what you're into: Scratch for the basics, MakeCode Arcade for making games, Godot for more ambitious projects, and P5.js for creative coding. A Lab Tech is on hand to help you through, so if you get stuck or want to figure out how to do something specific, there's someone there to talk you through it. It's as much about exploring and playing around as it is about learning the actual syntax.

Gloucestershire Libraries run these as part of their commitment to building an inclusive community, and the session is open to anyone in that 7-14 age bracket. Because it's a hands-on thing, the Lab operates by appointment, so it's worth contacting the library ahead of time to make sure you get a proper chance to sit down and work with the Lab Tech. The library lists its opening times as flexible and subject to change, so checking in beforehand is a good shout.

It runs on Tuesday 3 November, 5:00pm to 6:00pm, at Gloucester Library, Northgate Street meets The Oxbode, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL1 1SQ.